Land & Site Planning
Land is a living system with memory, movement, and direction.
Land & site planning is the process of reading the landscape before shaping it. It determines where water flows, where wind settles, where frost gathers, where heat accumulates, and where life naturally concentrates.
A well-planned site works with gravity, climate, soil, and ecology. A poorly planned site fights them. The land itself is the first piece of infrastructure.
Design begins by decoding these signals.
Building before reading is guessing.
Every site carries invisible information:
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Topography and slope
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Natural drainage lines
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Soil depth and structure
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Rock layers and fault lines
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Sun exposure and shade patterns
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Wind corridors
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Frost pockets
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Flood zones
Access & Circulation
Access routes should follow contours and rigedlines to minimize erosion and earth movement. Infrastructure should touch the land lightly. Movement defines function.
• Road placement
• Footpaths
• Service access
• Emergency routes
• Maintenance corridors
Building Placement
The right building in the wrong place is a failed project.
Structures are placed, not dropped.
Site planning considers:
• Solar orientation
• Wind protection
• Water runoff paths
• Soil stability
• Seismic risk
• Fire exposure
• Privacy and views
Zoning the Landscape
Zoning reduces energy use, travel distance, and maintenance effort. A functional site is divided into operational zones:
• Living zones
• Agricultural zones
• Water management zones
• Conservation zones
• Utility zones
Water & Terrain Integration
Water determines where life will grow.
Land planning begins with water.
• Roof runoff direction
• Swales and retention basins
• Flood buffers
• Groundwater recharge
• Erosion control
Ecological Preservation
Development must protect ecological intelligence.
A site is an ecosystem before it is a project.
• Native vegetation
• Wildlife corridors
• Pollinator zones
• Soil biology
• Microhabitats
Climate Resilience
Risk mapping is part of design.
A resilient site anticipates:
• Drought
• Flooding
• Heat waves
• Fire risk
• Landslides
• Soil loss
Design Objective
A successful site plan:
• Protects soil
• Retains water
• Minimizes earthworks
• Maximizes solar access
• Preserves biodiversity
• Reduces long-term maintenance
The land becomes a partner, not a constraint.