Site analysis and access diagrams with reflection

For this Site Analysis Blog, I will introduce the site and its surroundings generally first. Then give my personal reflection with photos of site. I would like to thank my friend Lydia and other people who upload their photos of the Library.

Fig 1. Site map with analysis drawing

Information we can find from the Map.

· Site (Red area): The site in the center of the figure was University of Auckland, Architecture Library building which contains theatre halls, offices, in this building. It also has a place which connects with Engineering building.

· Range of visibility (Green pie): Science, the site was almost surrounded by other building in a circle and lower than most of them, it’s hard for people inside the site-building lookup far away.

· Surrounding traffic (Grey Arrow): The Grey arrows show the traffic situation on nearby roads/streets. The arrow means vehicles’ driving direction. So from that diagram, drivers coming from SW(Symonds st), NW(Welleysley st, Uping from Queen st) can’t drive into the site parking area directly. There is no chance for them right turn or go straight to the site.

Both access for walking and driving, the width of the road was extended. Many trees are planted at the back for avoiding noise from the motorway at the back of the campus.

· Vehicle Access (Purple Arrow): The purple arrows the accessible way for vehicles enter the site area. There is a large parking space at the back of the Engineering building. For people from Symonds street, there is a temporary park place at the front of the kindergarten building.

An open space at the front of the entrance (Symonds Street) the staircase and the way are tight. Sunlight in this area was usually covered by trees and plants.

· Walking Access (Red Arrow): The red arrows delicate the possible direction of people flow for those who want to enter the site. At the west side of the site, there is a road junction of Symonds st and Welleysley st. That area is very busy every day. And 2 bus stop nearby.

· Building height level (Colour filled at the top view of buildings): The colour level at the corner of the map should refer to the top view of each building. The lighter colour of the top, the higher building is. Engineering building> Architecture library> Science building > Security building> Kindergarten house.

A courtyard next to the Engineering building has a high wind zone here. This empty place wasn't used very well.

· Ventilation (Blue Arrow): The blue arrows show the main wind direction of Auckland is from South-West. The Architecture and Planning Building have blocked most crossing ventilation. But there is a high wind zone at the courtyard near the Engineering building.

Fig 2. Solar study

· Sun Path (Orange diagram& fig2.Solar study): There are two Sun paths on the map. One represents the winter season, another one represents the summer season. It also shows the direction of sunrise and sunset. From another diagram, Solar study, buildings’ shadow in different time periods and season is clear. Depends on the height of Science building which at the opposite of the road and Engineering building and their position, both of them have huge shadow coverage on the site. Science building in the evening. Engineering building in the morning. Their shadow influence is one of the biggest issues need to care in the future, particularly in the winter season.

A courtyard at the back of the site-building is the main place for students to have public events. The sea level like a step from Higher level Symond street to Middle level, library/courtyard, to lowest level Engineering parking/ architecture workshop.

· Landscape (Section line& Section): I cut the site model in sections to see the character of the site landscape. The landscape of site is quite complex with a different sea level.