Buildings & Structure

1. Review the assignment you completed in Section 4 when you chose a site to design and produced a site map, sector, and zone plans. Please submit: updated site, sector and zone plans based on the additional information you have acquired in the preceding sections. Also include a development plan (or staged plan) for the site. Show proposed or redesigned planting areas, structures, paths etc. Please include a rationale for your plan similar to the discussion provided in Appendix Five.

The site and sector maps are in effect combined and the first clear observation is the complete removal of the access track from the south-eastern corner that went up the left side of the property and bisected the middle of the property.

We are fortunate that our chosen site is relatively under-developed, so we don’t need to design around exhisting buildings or planting schemes. So in terms of potential costs, we are only having to budget for additions and minor remedial work.

The clients, Jessica & Tim, have a strong and determined requirement that as many eco-friendly elements be applied to all aspects of the site; including but certainly not limited to housing, utilities, energy supply, food production and habitat renewal. Since section 4 a number of changes have been made to the design of the entire site. The site is still straightforward 20 metre by 52 metre rectangle on a slope from Northwest to Southeast corner, roughly down the axis of the rectangle.

The positioning of the house has been moved in order to remove all of the access road as this was taking up between 5 and 10 percent of the entire property. On the western side of the site Leylandii shade a small section but certainly not enough that it would make that area an improbable planting site. A large rosemary bush offers privacy and a good wind break from the prevailing weather direction.

The northern end of the property has had fruit trees and bushes planted on it to help prevent run off on such a sloped site. The house will now receive almost full sun, year round, with the exception of the sunset which falls on the other side of the slope. The tree nearest the property offers a small amount of dappled shade.

The Zone Map (below)shows that we have selected a yurt to be our primary residence with additional pods added for the bedrooms. The flexibility of the yurt design means that the entire structure can be moved to better take advantage of the conditions. The main yurt is primarily made up of lounge, which gets much of the sunlight during the day. The kitchen enjoys early sunshine and above it sits a small mezzanine level which will be used for office and storage. The bathroom is limited in size but fu8nctional, it’s position being selected so that waste water can be used on the garden.

The two bedroom pods are positioned on the Northeast side of the yurt so as to offer a cool aspect for a more comfortable sleep. A small driveway is now located at the entrance to the yurt and goes out towards the Southern corner of the property, well clear of the prevailing wind direction.