The Second Edition of Site Analysis is a comprehensive resource that details each phase of the land planning and site design process, explaining the influence of site and contextual conditions on land use development and conservation decisions. The book, written by James A. LaGro, provides a context-sensitive approach to site planning and design, focusing on the effects of changes in one or more land uses on the arrangement of other land uses.
The book’s main objective is to obtain the effects of changes in one or more land uses in the arrangement of other land uses considering three objective functions and one context. The book also discusses important design goals that can help shape better, more sustainable land use.
The book is available at Cal Poly Pomona University Library Reserve Desk and has received positive feedback from 16 customers. It is a valuable resource for those interested in sustainable land planning and design, as it details each crucial step in the process, from site selection through design development.
The book is available in hardcover and has received a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars. It is also available at Cal Poly Pomona University Library Reserve Desk and published in 2008.
In conclusion, Site Analysis is a valuable resource for understanding the impact of changes in land use on land use development and conservation decisions.
📹 How To Generate More Concept – Landscape Architecture Tutorial
In this video I share 2 different fundamental methods that I use to generate more concepts in Landscape Architecture. I take you …
📹 How To Think Like An Architect: The Design Process
Santa Barbara architect Barry Berkus takes us through the process he used to design the Padaro Lane Residence in Southern …
I’ve been a landscape architect for 13 years. I’ve tried to get into it and like it, but I can’t. I prefer natural landscapes to contrived conceptual landscapes, and I’m more appreciative of a vacant lot of weeds than I am of any man-made outdoor space. I mainly work with wealthy residential clients and I feel conflicted about perpetuating the “I want” attitude among wealthy clients whom are literally pricing me out of my own community. I’ve had to reframe my day job as a means to support my hobbies, which I love. This article gave me PTSD from my days of talking about concepts in college. I barely showed up for design lab and when I did I rushed all my work so I could get the heck outta there. I never applied myself and still graduated easily. I don’t know why I’m writing this here but I like to shout into the abyss and own my true feelings. Thanks for ignoring my comment. Cheers!
People, this is exactly the way it works and this is a good example to show young students about how an architect designs and creates something from nothing. This shows the seed of an idea and how it develops. You have to start somewhere. You should disregard the comments below of the people who have a poverty of imagination and an abundance of ignorance There are those who dream and dare to fail and those who dig ditches.
I’ve watched this article, and his others, many times. With this article, what Barry is talking about is something that all architects at all levels find not only to be the most challenging, but the most necessary part of the entire process. That process is concept development. The use of bubble diagrams is a simplified approach. But then again, that is exactly the point. Architecture is complicated. The goal is to keep it simple. That is exactly what Barry Berkus does.
I am like many others who’ve mentioned this article as being an eye-opener to the process. Yours is just like Volumetrics! It’s the same process I use to construct characters in scene or build backgrounds! Start with simple shapes and ideas and refine from there! How could it have been this simple all along?! I was already doing it!
Is it weird that I actually literally cried perusal this article.. I’ve watched this so many years ago and architects like him always inspire me in so many ways. And right now as i’m perusal it again, I just realized no matter how much we love architecture, our design or ideas wouldn’t matter if we are in a place where people don’t give value to us architects. It’s just sad. sorry guys just letting out my frustration right now. might delete this later.
I quit architecture school 10 years ago. A couple days ago I finished my first school year BACK in school as an architecture grad student after all that time away. All that time. I didn’t really have time to understand what I was doing this past school year because it was go, go,go, produce, produce, produce. This summer break, part of my plan is to slowly, calmly, and intentionally review all my lessons, read books, watch tutorials, look at architecture student portfolios online and try to understand them, look at firm websites, blogs, assign myself some practice projects, and really gain a better understanding of all this and come back next semester stronger!
Sorry but this is BS. Throwing words like fireplace, ocean view, library and infinity pool around, any arrangement would make an awesome house for rich people. This is not how you design a house, this is just a list of nice rooms. Anyone could have drawn this. In reality, architecture is the challenge to create nice spaces in a very small area while optimising for quality, cost efficientcy, enviromential challenges, exterieur looks, structural, and a ton of other factors.
Design follows function! That’s what my lecturers teach me and they are damn right! That guy is a good example of making a critical analysis of the site and purpose of the building first and then create the design! In the end what is essential is to know why you are building that house, then the design comes 🙂 You get inspired for what the shape of building and the materials will be once you know what the purpose is ! Otherwise if you think about the design first and then about function, you will end up creating something in which a lot of money are put and which will not suit the purpose! If you want to do that, then probably the subject for you is ART not Architecture.
Very beautiful piece of architecture, I’d really love to get into this field when i get out of the Army, i remember as a teenager just spending days on home design programs (not really professional at all) but id come up with some pretty amazing things, however i never had a plan, i just built one room to the next, focusing hours on each little detail. No idea why it fascinates me so much. but yeah, how do you become an architect? is it easy to get hired if you can prove to be talented?
” … one of the ‘Immortals” – Barry Berkus dies – architect of mass-market housingBerkus built a portfolio of 600,000 dwellings encompassing about 10,000 designs in developments across the U.S. He favored high ceilings, natural light and open spaces.Rest in Peace Barry … your teachings are been followed. ADx
I thought I’d leave a comment to say that this article was a real breakthrough for me…. I’m an artist, but absolutely love architecture. This article inspired me to start sketching again, but in a different light! Thank you so much Barry, for sharing your ideas and process in which you build a house. It’s Perfect! And the house looks fantastic – love your style! Wow, -Yevgeniy
Copic Markers and Chartpak AD Markers. A cheaper alternative is Prismacolor Markers, but they aren’t as consistent and they don’t seem to last as long. Another alternative is Letraset Markers, which have three tips on each marker. Copic and Prisma come in chisel+fine tips or brush+fine. Chartpak AD have one big tip that can be very precise or wide depending on how you hold it. Letraset has chisel, fine, and very fine all on the same marker. I think Chartpak have the most consistent color.
The process is more iterative than being so linear. Still, I like his way of explaining. He thinks so clearly for he is talking from his experience and the story he pictured is so vivid. A lof of good architects could do this. They draw the diagrams while their mind is traveling in space and start to tell the story. I need to practice more.
did you work on the project? I agree with your comments, In the article he just says that the library goes at the west end, and says this function can be used to block the western sun, so it is envisaged as a more enclosed space, it was just glossed over, and not really explained. saying that it is semi public does not address the issue.
“excellent example of initial design thinking approach … using the bubble diagram method – to establish the inter-relationship of space, use and function. But then the big question arises – – “does form follow function or should function follow form” ?The bubble diagram, if taken literally, will restrict the designer to the former whereas the latter is more likely to produce ‘architecture’ and not just a building …” ADx
Most architects were never proficient, as students (or teachers), in isometric or perspective sketches. If you happen to be skilled in this area, you can start off your first sketch in 3D. The new generations have incredible tools, such as “Sketchup”, which allow you to visualize your concepts immediately in 3D. The only difference is that they look stale. The best way is to make use of both worlds, the old and the new.
Personally, as an architecture student I never found bubble diagrams to be very helpful or productive. Bubble diagrams don’t really help you work out what an adjacent relationship should look like. Should it be a wall with a door? Should it be two areas in the same room with maybe an area rug to delimit one area? If I’m visualizing in my mind a living room 15×20 next to a dining room 15×12 then that’s what I want to draw. If you’re actually visualizing bubbles, then you’re pretty sure to end up with a planetary system of spacial organization of one central solar space and number of auxiliary planet spaces orbiting around it.
I cannot thank you enough for this article. I am an Civil Engineer but I always wanted to study architecture as soon as I graduated. But family loans and bills has always been a barrier to my love of architecture. So when I decided to learn architecture I never find anything worth to invest time for. But this is what I’ve been waiting. Thank you so much sir. 🙂 <3
I love architecture, it is my true passion. It hit me how hard and arduous the path of architecture is, so i have been doing my research and i have started to learn by myself before i even go to college. Im a junior in high school and even though my parents are selfishly using my college money i am still up for the challenge and reward of architecture. I really love it that much. a
The diagram becomes a building! Architecture is merely the name of the process that organizes buildings (shelter/enclosure/spaces) to provide socially meaningful benefit. The driving concept of architecture is that it is not mere ‘problem solving’. Problem solving is a reductionist impulse to get a problem out of the way. Sure, there are a milion problems that must be solved on the way to providing the benefit to the client, users, and those who encounter the building. but we are NOT problem solvers. We are opportunity takers and makers; we are benefit openers, we create environments, shelters that intervene in people’s lives to give them satisfaction that they otherwise would not have, we help to shape social meaning, we help people find places in which and by which to flourish. We make the background for personal expansion, satisfaction and exploration in socially meaningful shelters, from factories, to warehouses, to hospitals, offices and homes. That’s what we do. From the get go, we think of the persons who will experience our spaces and profit from them, both metaphorically and actually.
Im by NO MEANS an architect………..but i’ve designed the layout of my house with VERY similar ideals. Here in NYC we dont have any beachfront views so its either the street or the backyard. And unless you live 20 stories up in Manhattan there arent a huge selection of views so we aimed at the 1 thing we could control the most our backyard. So the layout focused on creating the bedrooms/ living rooms to the rear of the house. It gives me a sense of peace of mind knowing that at the very least im heading in somewhat right direction.
This is a beautiful and concise explanation of the conceptual design process. Thank you very much. There is a lot of confusion and exaggeration surrounding this topic due to a lack of quality education because many people do not go to school for education but rather, to acquire a degree or credentials. Education has become a money-making racket. Also, many large design firms such as architectural firms and especially interior design firms, have defaulted into “Image Transfer Design” or more clearly put: plagiarism. Many young people entering this vocation, have no reason to doubt the legitimacy of this plagiarism approach.
I’m constantly beeing bothered at architecture school because I sketch horribly, but I love what I do and overall I think that’s the most important thing an architect should keep in mind. I swear to everything that is sacred and to my self that I will be one of the greatest. Thanks for the articles they are truely awesome!!!
For the benefit of those high school kids interested in this profession, there is rampant fallacy held by people including myself before I entered architecture school that architects are technical people in traditional STEM sense in addition to working with aesthetics but that is complete false. Architecture education in US is 99% humanities discipline i.e. art, history and english with virtually no science classes to receive a diploma.
Very interesting. Perfect introductory for those knowing basic design principals and drawing techniques on a 2D plane. I look forward to eventually learning the complexities of architecture, like considering which materials to use and building homes and businesses to withstand hurricanes and other natural disasters. I’d also like to know where this house was built, with a beachfront to the South. As we’re shown the perspective conceptual art, we can see that the design takes multiple drawings and therefore multiple diagrams to cover the full 360° view. Judging by the fact that roads don’t usually go over ocean, I’m guessing he’s starting from the street view.
The ideation and his thought process was very engaging, like a story from start to end. But I am not sure I can understand how it translated in to the actual building, from the photos they showed. I expected to see more levels and heirarchical separations among the spaces, from his sketches. But it’s a very boxish building, with a full length glass facade facing the sea. Looks like any other building that can be planted anywhere. Kind of disappointing. Loved the story telling though.
It’s amazing to see the thinking behind the design…Great to see there is some consideration about where the sun is in terms of the ‘performance’ of the home…such an important part of the process…an amazing building…be interesting to know how it performs in terms of energy consumption and so on…
I’m currently in the 11th grade, and want to be an architect. I haven’t really done much about it, except pick the science stream, and take art classes, and I am freaking out! This was very helpful, but if anyone has any advice about being/becoming and architect, please feel free to share. I’d be very grateful.
this is the most meaningful 3:00 of my life, … i am a drafting student here in philippines and this kind of architecture thinking is always belittle for some doesnt acknowledge how building this piece is really hard… anyway i learned so much how BUBBLE diagrams affects the most planning and i really appreciate it.
Good to see how the mind of a wise architect work when creating a house the criteria needed to be considered before getting into actual designing a building at particular location which is i guess is left to to his team members or assistance to make his conceptual ideas into reality with modern materials of 2st century propably using steel and concrete to support the structure where necessary but hidden within modern cladding and so on. A book to pass his knowledge to younger generation ?.
heloo, i’m licia…and i saw your articles sir… and i would like to do architecture, but i’m a little bit confused because the idea of deciding in doing architecture was based on my drawing and painting skills, but i’m good in sciences and maths and other subjects that are inside of architecture and always i work with my imagination and my creative side… so do you think that i can be a good architecture? and for you what is the best universitys in the world to do architecture or arts ?
he didnt say this was a typical day and yes those that you mentioned are called constraints inorder to save time and money you must know your codes your client and all others or you will do what you seem to do all the time, make something not possible. now im not saying improbable but impossible. its like designing an object with materials that are: cost prohibitive, illegal or undesirable. if you overcome those challenges youll work with less frustration,do your homework and dont rush ina proj.
I am also an architect. In my opinion your diagrams could be also called conceptual sketches which explain the program of this house for example. It is the very first sketch. But the diagram does not explain why your house looks like it is in the end. The volumentry, the materials, the surfaces and so on which is shown in the visualisation. How do you get from 2D (diagram) to 3D (volumetry)?
U cant design like this in our country cause this will cost u about $600K and in our country(Philippines) our client has only 165sqm Lot & average of $65K budget w/ space reqmts of 3 bdrms(w/ balcony), 1 MasterBdrm, 1 FormalKitch, 1 Dirty Kitch(bc most of the cooking is done in dirty & formal is for showoff), 2 carporch, 1maid’s rm, 1 family/common area, 1 guest room, entertainment room. Architecture is more fun in the Philippines but the sad part is Civil Enrg can also sign architecture plans
I think the circles have to do more with adjacencies, thus influencing the design. He’s showing the very very very beginnings of a design process. Very vague, only the first steps, which is what he said. Those circles later become harder lines. I don’t find it dumb at all, but as you said, each architect has their way of thinking. His is just old school, but it does get a point across and very practical for the inital phases.
I think the guests wont really be spending 24/7 inside the bedrooms.The library serves as a semi public space in the house. You being the owner would like to have the full potential of the views wherever part of the house you would go to. You entertain your guests in the kitchen/living and pool area.
Also he forgets the architects’ worst nightmare: the engineers! 😀 And plumbers… and the prize… for construction as well as operation… if you’re building somewhere cold, you’ll want to minimize the surface area of the house… you’ll want steep roofs so that snow and water doesn’t accumulate and cause damage… if you want to keep the prize down, you’ll also want to minimize plumbing… that means keeping the bathroom and kitchen wall-to-wall with each other…
I agree with Jess from earlier comments. This is ridiculous as a designing process. This is possible to do after the house is done and every problem and struggle was solved. One can not reduce design process into few diagrams, and I disagree that diagram becomes a layout of a house. There is so much more! One can not even explain what is involved in a design process. One can not understand unless did some design…