How to Conduct an Architecture Site Analysis

Download your FREE Site Analysis Workbook here: [site-analysis-guide](https://studioleonardo.design/site-analysis-workbook) If you’re skeptical about my credentials, thats totally reasonable. The internet is a wild place. Check out my personal resume: [/ experience](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-leonardo/details/experience/) When I was an architecture student years ago, I wished a resource like this existed. While I love how open ended the creative process for design is, having a resource that provided a foundation for what we should look for before we start the design of a building or public space would have provided more security and basis for the choices we made. My hope with this course it that it provides you with some structure of what to look for in your built environment and how to draw insights that would improve your space. We can all learn to communicate better with each other; especially in the building and planning industry. I believe this course and workbook will take you one step closer in bridging that communication gap. The workbook includes: - Description of what a site analysis is and why it is important - Question prompts to analyze your site’s landscape, streets, open space, block and culture - Directions to diagram site elements and diagram space for the landscape, street, open space and block sections. - Example diagrams as developed in the video for your reference - Worksheet to review and clarify your key insights from the analysis you have conducted. --- A site analysis course video walks through six structured steps—landscape, street, open space, block, culture, and insights—to help citizens and students generate actionable, data‑backed recommendations for a project site. --- # Detailed outline of the video ## 1. Intro and purpose of the course - Many people feel shut out of conversations about the built environment because they do not speak “architect” or “planner” language. - Rachel introduces the course as a way to change that by teaching how to conduct a site analysis over about an hour. - She briefly summarizes her background: 10 years studying architecture, working in construction project management, and telling urban‑planning stories online. - Goal: give viewers tools to design places built for people, not copy‑paste templates. ## 2. Course structure overview - Section 1: landscape around the building. - Section 2: street analysis. - Sections 3–4: open space and block analysis. - Section 5: cultural context surrounding the building. - Section 6: key recommendations for project planners. - She explains that this helps you show up confidently to planning meetings or articulate why some buildings feel wrong or out of place. ## 3. What is a site analysis? - Definition: a structured way of understanding a specific location via physical conditions, history, culture, context, and constraints. - Shows what the place does well, where weak points are, and how a new building fits into the city’s larger story instead of being dropped out of context. ## 4. Good vs bad site analysis (two example buildings) - Building One: in a highly transited new neighborhood between old town and university. - Missed opportunity to bring in cultural elements or traditional materials to make it feel cohesive with the city. - Ground‑floor patios are closed off; many shopfronts have become ground‑floor apartments. - Public realm is privatized and underused, not fun even for residents. - Building Two / northern Pamplona neighborhoods: embrace traditional elements that made earlier buildings long‑lasting. - These buildings feel like they belong from day one, proportioned well to make people feel they are meant to be there. - They invite people into the past, showing values and community‑building history better than Building One. - She acknowledges subjectivity (“maybe you love Building One”) and brings it back to where people actually like to hang out with friends. - Key point: we choose spaces that feel right based on landscape, street, open space, and culture—even if unconsciously. - Site analysis captures these intuitive factors to avoid “Building One” outcomes. ## 5. Workbook introduction and call to download - Rachel explains she has developed a course workbook with exercises and diagrams. - She strongly recommends downloading it, pauses to let viewers do so, and explains she will reference it throughout. ## 6. Landscape analysis (Section 1) - Focus: understand natural and man‑made elements around the site. - She explicitly leaves out detailed terrain/geology (piles, foundations, freeze depth) as specialized topics. - Instead, the aim is to inform above‑ground design: entry locations relative to wind, building orientation for natural light, stormwater management, and connections to sewer/electric. - She has designed 10 questions to develop design insights and stresses the importance of diagramming. - Encourages simple “napkin sketch” diagrams; you do not need Rembrandt‑level drawing skills. - Uses an example site in Pamplona so viewers can follow along. ## 6.1 Basic environmental questions and tools - On the worksheet, start with basics: site orientation to the sun, prevailing wind directions, and any slopes. - Some info can be gathered online (sun path, wind). - She recommends finding a wind rose to understand the strongest wind directions. - At home she measured the site perimeter but notes architects should use real property lines and utility data when possible. - For non‑architects, suggests printing Google My Maps base plans and drawing over them. ## 6.2 Marking cardinal directions and field observations - Emphasizes marking north, south, east, west on diagrams; forgetting the north arrow in school was a big mistake. - Once orientation is set, observe and count: trees, streetlamps, benches, and other elements. - Collect as much information as possible for use by designers or engaged citizens later. ## 6.3 Role of local knowledge - Acknowledges limited time for professional site visits. - Citizens and locals possess critical experiential data (rain patterns, activity levels, seasonal use) that architects lack. - She stresses that this intuitive knowledge is valuable and that citizens’ voices should not be discounted. ## 7. Street analysis (Section 2) - Purpose: understand how the site connects to the broader network—city, town, or rural area—and how people and vehicles move. - Streets are not just for cars but encompass all movement types. - Observing movement reveals whether the site is a place to pass through, to stop in, and how safe it feels. ## 7.1 Streets as movement networks - Uses analogies: streets are like arteries, veins, capillaries feeding the body (city). - Main arteries: highways, wide roads with heavy car and bus traffic. - Veins: more pedestrian‑oriented streets, quieter, safer, easier to cross. - Capillaries: small streets for trucks, deliveries, trash, sometimes fully pedestrianized and functioning as open space. ## 7.2 Rural, small‑town, and urban contexts - Rural: examine connections to main roads, whether to build a road or maintain footpaths between villages. - Small town: assess transit lines, car infrastructure, and level of foot traffic; talk to shop owners to understand flows and peak times. - Urban: more input data, easier to gauge flows and transit. - People move with purpose; understanding motivations (escape, recreation, work) helps design routes and sites that serve those needs. ## 7.3 Street diagramming and safety - In the workbook, she shows how to diagram streets proportionally relative to the site. - Mark which parts are for pedestrians, cars, buses, trams, bikes; use colors or hatch patterns. - Note sidewalks, crosswalks, ramps, tactile tiles, and whether crossings feel safe (walking calmly vs running with fear). - Record pavement materials and lane markings. - These observations support advocacy for safer crossings or redesigns, even outside the project scope. ## 8. Open space analysis (Section 3) - Now that landscape and streets are understood, she moves to open space and block context. - Open space is often misunderstood; goal is to determine if the site must supply open space or strengthen existing ones. ## 8.1 Context‑dependent open space - Rural: focus on building/memorial orientation within abundant open land. - Town/city: examine surrounding buildings, businesses, and streets that frame open space. - Good open space must be proportionate to population and business density in the area. - Example: Central Park fits New York; the same size in Pamplona would function more like an outskirt natural area than an urban respite. ## 8.2 Borders and mixed use (Jane Jacobs) - Cites Jane Jacobs and “The Death and Life of Great American Cities.” - Good open space has borders providing varied functions; different users occupy it at different times (businesspeople at lunch, families after work). - Example: Pamplona’s Plaza del Castillo—restaurants, trees, and a central kiosk/bandstand support buskers, dancing, and city life. ## 8.3 Types of open space and utilization - Includes parking lots, vacant lots, plazas with tables, terrace spaces. - Diagram surrounding open spaces and decide whether to build to the edge or pull back for wider sidewalks or plaza. - Walk the blocks around the site: note businesses, other open spaces, sun/shade patterns. - Evaluate over‑ or under‑utilization and consider time of day; heavy crowding may signal need for more relief space. ## 8.4 Example open‑space conclusions - For her example site, to the east lies a park with an old bastion; to the west, a future museum. - The area is already highly transited with bars and terrace space plus a corner memorial with extended sidewalk. - She decides not to add much additional public open space, as existing provision feels adequate. ## 9. Block analysis (Section 4) - Focus shifts from ground plane to building form in context. - Questions: building width and height, facade breaks, sun access rules, height limits. - Block analysis considers the building within the block’s full mass, not just as an isolated object. ## 9.1 Demand and program - Recognizes that design is influenced by housing demand and citywide studies. - Example project prompt: various mixes of one‑, two‑, and three‑bedroom apartments. - These programmatic needs shape height, volume, and layout decisions. ## 9.2 Measuring height, variety, and context - Use block diagrams to mark the number of stories around the site and note height variations. - Moderated variation creates visual interest; extreme jumps (e.g., sudden tower) feel jarring and context‑disregarding. - It is generally acceptable to go slightly lower or higher than neighboring buildings if the ensemble feels cohesive. ## 9.3 Style, materials, and local identity - Examine ground‑floor businesses, facades, colors, materials, and ornamentation in areas people like to spend time in. - Emphasizes building places worth gathering in for financial resilience and social cohesion. - Cultural expression matters: Basque‑style buildings would feel wrong transplanted to Washington, DC. - Styles may be modern or traditional, but should express local culture and context. ## 9.4 Example block decision - For her hypothetical building, she matches the height of two surrounding buildings, enabling terrace space on the back and reuse of local materials. - Aim: cohesion with surrounding environment and long‑term success. ## 10. Culture analysis (Section 5) - Distinguishes physical site attributes from cultural ones (ideas, customs, social behaviors). - Physical aspects can be “input X, output Y,” while cultural patterns (e.g., grocery store hours) vary by place. ## 10.1 Culture and everyday rhythms - Compares Spain and the United States: Spanish businesses closing 1–4 pm, streets active past midnight vs U.S. 24/7 business hours but early‑quiet streets. - Culture dictates when spaces are active and how they are used. - It shapes how we move, gather, rest, and feel belonging. ## 10.2 Culture as the “activator” of space - Culture activates space and defines events people gather for. - Ignoring culture can lead to efficient but soulless buildings; integrating culture creates spaces that feel contextually right. - Built environment is like walking through history; importing repetitive, generic buildings erases local values for future generations. ## 10.3 Identifying unique local traits - Cultural analysis surfaces what makes a place unique and worth living in, and which aspects residents are proud of. - It connects data on when spaces are full or empty to underlying cultural patterns. - This step is key to deciding which cultural elements to highlight in new facades and spaces. ## 11. Building insights and recommendations (Section 6) - After finishing sections 1–5, it is time to review data and write recommendations for the building on the site. - These insights help communicate with architects, planners, and developers who may have different values, especially financial ones. ## 11.1 Linking design to financial and social outcomes - Open spaces with active businesses help activate space, increasing commerce and social cohesion. - Proportionate open space tied to population shows whether a place can be more active, which translates into financial viability. - Connecting social goals to financial benefits helps bridge communication gaps with decision‑makers. ## 11.2 Interior–facade–street relationships - Architecture students should also consider interiors and their relationship to facades and streets. - Two suggested design approaches: - Start from block and context, then tweak facade and plan to fit the program. - Start with modular units, stack them (like a Jenga tower), then design an exterior “wrap” facade. ## 11.3 Advocacy and packaging the analysis - Use the final workbook pages to package findings into a clear narrative. - She stresses the importance of using data, observations, and financial logic to advocate for better environments. - Encourages sending work to local developers and governments and not letting the analysis sit unused. ## 12. How to share findings with stakeholders - Suggests three outreach methods: - Direct messages on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook. - Showing up to public meetings informed about agendas to have targeted conversations. - Sending letters with diagrams and analysis to show serious, respectful engagement. - Advises collaborating respectfully with decision‑makers rather than simply condemning them. ## 13. Closing remarks and channel plans - Rachel acknowledges the effort required, congratulates viewers for completing the course, and invites questions via DMs, comments, or website contact. - She explains she plans to “put her money where her mouth is” by using these tools in future channel projects and videos. - Encourages sharing the course with architecture students, frustrated citizens, and organizations working to improve the built environment. - Reiterates that building places you love is hard, thanks viewers for their time, and previews next week’s video on cornerless buildings. --- # Timeline of events discussed Conceptual/historical sequence, not exact timestamps. - Rachel’s past decade - She mentions having spent the last 10 years studying architecture, working in construction project management, and telling urban‑planning stories online. - Present day: context for the course - Citizens feel shut out of built‑environment decisions, and copy‑paste buildings are appearing everywhere. - Rachel creates this course and workbook (published January 7, 2026) to address this gap. - Course workflow (within the video) - Intro and explanation of why site analysis matters. - Definition of site analysis and contrast between good and bad examples (two buildings). - Landscape analysis: natural and man‑made contextual factors around the site. - Street analysis: movement networks, safety, and connections across rural, town, and urban contexts. - Open space analysis: proportion, borders, and usage based on Jacobs’ ideas and the Plaza del Castillo example. - Block analysis: height, massing, program demand, and stylistic integration with surrounding blocks. - Culture analysis: business hours, social habits, and cultural activation of space, including Spain–USA comparison. - Building insights: turning all data into recommendations and financial/social arguments. - Sharing results: reaching out to developers and governments via DMs, meetings, and letters. - Conclusion: encouragement, future channel plans, and teaser for the next video. --- # People mentioned in the video - Rachel Leonardo - Host, instructor, and course creator; person on camera and owner of studioleonardo.design. - Jane Jacobs - Author of “The Death and Life of Great American Cities,” cited for ideas about borders and good urban open space. No other individuals are named directly in the transcript excerpt. --- # Vocabulary list of terms - Site analysis - Structured study of a location’s physical conditions, history, culture, context, and constraints to inform design. - Built environment - Human‑made surroundings such as buildings, streets, and public spaces where people live and work. - Public realm - Shared spaces accessible to the public (streets, plazas, parks) where everyday life unfolds. - Ground floor activation - Use of the ground floor (shops, cafes, active facades) to encourage people to spend time in a place. - Landscape analysis - Examination of natural and man‑made environmental elements around a site (sun, wind, vegetation, utilities). - Wind rose - Diagram summarizing wind directions and strengths in a location. - Cardinal directions - The four main compass points: north, south, east, west. - Street analysis - Study of movement types, volumes, and patterns on streets surrounding a site. - Arteries, veins, capillaries (street metaphor) - Analogies for major, secondary, and minor streets in a transport network. - Pedestrianization - Transforming a street or area to prioritize people on foot over vehicles. - Crosswalk - Designated crossing area on a street, often marked, where pedestrian safety is evaluated. - Tactile tiles - Textured paving to help visually impaired people detect edges and crossings. - Open space - Unbuilt areas such as parks, plazas, vacant lots, terraces, or parking lots within the urban fabric. - Plaza - Urban open space often framed by buildings, cafes, or trees, used for gathering and events. - Block analysis - Evaluation of building form (height, width, massing) within its block and relation to neighboring structures. - Massing - Overall three‑dimensional shape and volume of a building or group of buildings. - Program / project prompt - Requirements for a building’s uses and units (e.g., number and types of apartments) that drive design. - Facade - Exterior face of a building, including materials, windows, and decorative elements. - Terrace space - Outdoor areas attached to buildings, such as balconies or roof terraces. - Cultural context - Local customs, social behaviors, and everyday patterns that shape how people use space. - Stakeholder - Anyone with an interest in a project (residents, developers, planners, local government). - Social cohesion - Strength of relationships and sense of community within an area, often supported by good public space. - Financial viability - Capacity of a project or place to support businesses and sustain activity economically over time. - Modular design - Approach where building units are designed as repeatable modules that can be stacked or arranged. - Data‑backed insights - Conclusions supported by observations, counts, diagrams, and other evidence gathered during analysis. ---