Site Planning and Urban Design Flashcards
6 cards from real Architecture and Design practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Site Planning and Urban Design flashcards as text
What does 'FAR' (Floor Area Ratio) measure in zoning regulations?
Answer: The ratio of total building floor area to the area of the site
FAR is calculated by dividing the total gross floor area of all building floors by the total area of the site.
What is a 'setback' in site planning?
Answer: The required minimum distance between a building and a property line
Setbacks are zoning-mandated minimum distances from property lines within which buildings may not be placed.
The 'urban heat island effect' refers to:
Answer: Higher temperatures in urban areas compared to surrounding rural areas due to paved surfaces and buildings
The urban heat island effect occurs because paved surfaces and buildings absorb and re-radiate heat, making cities warmer than surrounding rural areas.
In site grading, a '2% minimum slope away from the building' is required primarily to:
Answer: Direct surface water away from the foundation
Grading at least 2% away from the building ensures surface water drains away from the foundation, preventing water infiltration and moisture problems.
What does 'lot coverage' mean in zoning?
Answer: The percentage of the lot area that can be covered by buildings and structures
Lot coverage is the percentage of the total lot area that may be covered by building footprints and sometimes other impervious surfaces.
The 'five-minute walk' (roughly 1/4 mile) is used in urban design as a standard for:
Answer: Comfortable pedestrian catchment area for transit stops and neighborhood amenities
A quarter-mile walk shed (~5 minutes) is the standard measure for defining walkable pedestrian catchment areas around transit and services.