CONTEXT AND COMFORT

Question 1

What are the 2 contextual forces that need to be considered when designing a building?

Answer 1

Natural and Regulatory forces

Question 2

What are natural forces to be considered when designing a building?

Answer 2

Topography, climate, orientation and material resources.

Question 3

What are the regulatory forces to be considered when designing a building?

Answer 3

Municipal ordinances and building regulations: existing land-use patterns, rules prescribing the acceptable uses and activities for a site, limitations of size and shape of a building and where it may be located on the site.

Question 4

What is the premise of sustainable development?

Answer 4

Meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability for future generations to meet their own needs.

Question 5

What encompasses the concept of sustainability or sustainable design?

Answer 5

Broad concept (whole-systems approach)
Notion of green building + social, ethical, economic and contextual issues.

Question 6

What a green building “seeks”?

Answer 6

Provide health environments in a resource-efficient manner, using ecologically-based principles.

Question 7

What is LEED?

Answer 7

One of the standards that govern Green Buildings, its a green building rating system- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

Question 8

What is a site analysis?

Answer 8

Process of studying the contextual forces that influence how we might situate a building, lay out and orient its spaces and establish its relationship to the landscape.

Question 9

List the Natural factors that are part of a site analysis

Answer 9

Topography: configuration of the surface of a lot of a land
Vegetation: type and dimensions of plants, identification of the ones to be protected
Orientation: sun path, wind directions, natural water drainage
Sound and views: desirable views, areas of congestion and noise

Question 10

Regulatory factors that are part of a site analysis:

Answer 10

Zoning ordinances
Access to municipal utilities
Point of access from public roads
Cultural and/or historical resources present on site that must be maintained

Question 11

In a Topography map what are contour lines?

Answer 11

Lines that join points of equal elevation above a bench mark. Indicate the shape of the land at that elevation. Spacing of contour lines provides information about the terrain

Question 12

In a Topography map what is a contour interval?

Answer 12

Difference in elevation between 2 contour lines. The closer the contour lines the steeper a terrain is.

Question 13

How to differentiate contour lines and indexed contour lines?

Answer 13

Indexed contour lines are thicker and darker

Question 14

Why it is important to understand a topography plan?

Answer 14

To understand the surface of a terrain and how it will interact with a building placed on it. Where the terrain will need to be cut and where it will need to be filled.

Question 15

What informations are there in a survey plan?

Answer 15

Topography
Orientation
Property lines
Building height and configuration
Type of building
Vegetation
City services

Question 16

For economic and ecological reasons What should be the general intent when developing a site?

Answer 16

Minimize disturbances of landforms and features and take advantage of natural ground slopes:
1-Avoid disrupting natural drainage of site and adjacent properties
2-Try to equalize the amount of cut and fill
3-Avoid building on steep slopes subject to erosion or slides
4-Pay attention to building restrictions near flood plains
5-Structures that are partially underground have better temperature control and are less exposed to wind.

Question 17

Why grass and ground covers are important?

Answer 17

Can reduce air temperature by absorbing solar radiation and cooling by evaporation
Aid in stabilizing soil embarkments and preventing erosion

Question 18

How can trees affect their immediate environment?

Answer 18

Providing shade
Serving as windbreak and reducing heat loss
Directing or screening views
Attenuating sound
Improving air quality
Stabilizing soil