1. Site Orientation & Linear Measurements

2. Site Orientation

3. House or Site Orientation
Definition: The placement of a structure on the property with certain environmental and physical factors taken into consideration, a compass location of the rooms
Takes place at the beginning of design process
Factors that may influence house or site orientation are:
1) terrain (topographical, contours, etc)
2) view
3) solar (sun exposure, site location)
4) wind
5) sound (noise)
6) zone

4. Contour Lines 1) Terrain Orientation
The characteristic of the land on which the proposed structure will be placed
Contours dictate slope
Affects the type of structure to be built
Types of land categories
1) Level or generally level
Contour lines far apart
2) Sloped
Contour lines close together
Gentle Slope Steep Slope
Contour Lines

5. 1) Terrain Orientation - Level Sites
Natural site for single- level or two-story homes

6. 1) Terrain Orientation - Sloped Sites
Natural location for multilevel or daylight basement homes

7. 1) Terrain Orientation - Sloped Sites
Subterranean construction places a portion of the house below grade, is becoming popular

8. 1) Terrain Orientation - Contours
Help to determine the slope of the land
Contour intervals in this example are 1 vertical feet, dark contours are 5 vertical feet
Common intervals are 1, 2, 5, 10 and even 50 feet
slope

9. 2) View Orientation
Many future homeowners purchase a building site because of the view
mountains, city lights, a lake, the ocean, or golf course

10. 2) View Orientation View sites are more expensive than others
Designer/architect should design a home that optimizes the view, however, a trade-off between other orientation factors may have to be considered

11. 3) Solar Orientation
To take full advantage of Sun exposure to the structure
Major living areas face south for winter solar heat
Breakfast area should face east for morning sun
Solar chart shows the Southern orientation and the suns path also time of year

12. 4) Wind Orientation
Determine the direction from which the wind most frequently blows (prevailing winds) in a given area of the country
Wind conditions should be taken into consideration for house orientation
One factor of orientation over another factor may outweigh the other

13. 4) Wind Orientation
Landscaping can help control wind

14. 5) Sound Orientation
Sound coming from surrounding community or area can be good or bad
natures sounds--singing birds, croaking frogs, etc.
road noises, train sounds, major freeways, etc.
Positioning the house feature to reduce sound, such as garage, or closets

15. 5) Sound Orientation
Landscaping, fences, berms, trees, hedges, etc. may help block out some of these noises

16. 6) Zone Orientation
City zoning ordinances set and establish guidelines as to house location on the lot, the house height, size of house & lot, even the exterior design of home in some cases
Set backs are distances that set imaginary lines called building lines which are parallel lines to the property lines and establish the confine of where the house can be built

17. 6) Zone Orientation - Set Backs

18. 6) Zone Orientation - Set Backs
Notice line differences of property and building lines, both are labeled on the drawing
House placed inside building line area

19. House/Site Orientation - Example
Factors shown: view, solar, wind, zone

20. Linear Measurements

21. Linear Measurement -- Plot Plans
Civil Engineering Scale typically used on plot plans because of site or land measurements, contractor will use this type of measurement in positioning the house on the site.
The Civil Scale is divided into tenth, therefore all units are marked in feet and tenths of feet
Example: Architectural measurement = 5’- 6” Civil measurement = 5.5’

22. Divisions and Scales of the Civil Engineer Scale

23. Civil Engineer Scale Examples
Division is 10
Wide range of ratios

24. Civil Engineer Scale Examples

25. Civil Engineer Scale Examples