a&a overview
DESCRIPTION
Sam Dunlap's overview of Analyses and Assessment phase of the Design processTRANSCRIPT
Site Analysis & Assessment
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Now that you’re done with your goals articulation, you should have…
List of desired elements and speciesProblems, qualities, issues, likesIdeas for how to support and heal the land and surrounding ecosystemsDesign criteria to meet your values and goalsA list of questions and topics to guide your analysis and assessmentWhat do I need to know about the site to make these goals a reality?
GuidelinesA&A connects the goals to the site
It’s about patterns and relationships (remember: patterns to details)
When we analyze, we break the site up into smaller, decipherable components so we can understand the relationships that exist between them
The “What?”
Assessment
When we assess, we assign value
The “So What?”
What are the implications for design?
Bubble diagramsFat markers, big movements (patterns)
Circles and arrows
Reasonably messy
Words and pictures
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A&A is a summary of the current realityIt’s ok to have design directions, but don’t get lost in them
Note them and return to the here and now and the implications for design
Distinguish between
observations (factual, neutral)
--> interpretations (assigning value based on your background/perspective and your goals)
The Path Forward
Start collecting info (maps, historical documents, soils info, climate data, legal info, info from neighbors and community)
Undirected observation and interpretation
Now that you have your goals, go back and notice what you noticeConnect back to your first impressionsCan incorporate sector and flow analysis, or these can be part of your thematic observations
Thematic Observation
Sector analysis
Flow analysis
Scale of
Permanence
Scale of PermanenceClimateLandformWaterLegal IssuesAccess & CirculationVegetation & WildlifeMicroclimatesBuildings & InfrastructureZones of UseSoilAesthetics
Overlay for each aspect of the s.o.p.
(except climate)
The goals determine the question you are asking and what you are looking for
S.O.P. guiding questions
Use words and pictures
Set time limits for each aspect
Hold back on design, we’re buildin’ momentum here
If you get stuck, return to the goals
On each overlay: summarize the 3-5 most important points
A&A Summary: summarize all the most important data from all aspects of the s.o.p. onto one overlay, using words and pictures
Landform
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Water
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Access & circulation
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Vegetation & wildlife
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Soils
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Zones of Use, Aesthetics
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A&A summary
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Recap
Patterns to detailsPatterns inherent in the goals
Patterns inherent in the site
Next, we begin weaving them together
The goals guide the A&A
Analyze: break the site up into its components
Assess: assign value, interpret
Undirected observation
Sector and Flow Analyses
Thematic observation guided by the scale of permanence
Distinguish observations from interpretations
A&A Summarycombination of the most important or influential observations and interpretations from all aspects of the s.o.p. summarizes the current reality on the site and its implications for design in relation to the goalslays foundation for decisions in design phase
The more thorough the A&A, the smoother the design phase…The A&A discovers the design