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The
site on which a building is built
is the primary force behind the design and use of a
building. Geography and climatology both have shaped
the site . These buildings have
to be able to adapt to the changes of seasonal weather
and the ever-moving earth. Where on earth would you
build the following building? Match them up:
Igloo
New York City , New York
Skyscraper
Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
Adobe Church
Marina del Rey , California
Houseboat
Santa Fe , New
Mexico
Think
about the reasons why you matched up the ones you did.
It’s not possible to build an igloo in Santa Fe because
it’s a dry, desert climate. Take a look at where you
live. What kind of weather happens? Is it mostly cold
outside, mostly hot, dry or wet? Look at your own house
and point out the parts that help protect you from the
weather.
Once
we’ve determined how the building protects us from the
weather, we can look at how the
building sits on the site or
its placement .
“Orientation”
is the direction in which the building faces.
Most buildings are oriented towards
the street but some can be oriented toward an inner
court or hidden by privacy fencing. Think about orientation
the next time you go to your favorite restaurant.
Do you enter from the back by the dumpster or through
a nice front door?
“Setback”
is the distance from the street to the front
of the building. Is the building right next to the street
or is there some space in between? Think about what
people do if there is space in between.
“Alignment”
is the relationship of the setbacks along
the street. Do the front facades of the all buildings
on the block line up or are they different?
“Spacing”
is the amount of space between the building
and the neighboring buildings. Is your house far away
from your neighbors or close by?
Next:
Use
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