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Published by Sitestudy.com, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
5th edition, Copyright 2009 by Sitestudy.com
General Information
Sitestudy.com courses are not site-specific and can be used to study any site, anywhere in the world. Students may take any course as often as they choose. Sitestudy.com is registered with the AIA Continuing Education System (AIA/CES). Upon completion, AIA members will receive 4.5 Sustainable Design/HSW learning unit hours, which will be reported directly to the CES for them. AIA and non-AIA member registrants will receive a certificate of completion of 4.5 contact hours.
This coursepack has three functions:
• It is a study guide.
• It is a take-home exam.
• It is your permanent record or your site visit.
Step One: Select a City to Study
1. You must be prepared to spend at least 48 hours in your study city, although you won't have to spend all that time on the study.
2. You must have access to maps and written materials about the specific city you select which will enable you to understand its larger scale form.
3. The city must have a public transportation system, or you must have access to automobile transport there.
Step Two: Research and Develop a Bibliography
Map (required)
To understand your city, you must familiarize yourself with its basic "rules"; at a minimum, your map must show the street and block pattern of the city. Maps with geography, buildings, transit, neighborhoods, etc., are invaluable and interesting. In some cultures (including most of Japan, and Managua, Nicaragua) maps are scarce and difficult to read, and addresses non-existent. In these cases, it will be difficult to understand the built out blocks and empty spaces of streets, plazas, etc. which form the building blocks of a city. But, it can be done.
History (recommended)
We recommend obtaining a guidebook or history, which includes information on your city.
Other Reference Material (recommended)
Read about an aspect of your city, which led you to choose to study it. For example, is it a cultural or political capital (Mexico D.F.), extremely dense (Tokyo), has it a well-realized Beaux Art plan (Madison, Wisconsin), or is noted for architecture of a particular period (Vienna)? Articles, books, and CD-ROMs might all be appropriate and valuable.
Step Three: Bibliographic References (at least one map and two other items)
Additional related references: movies, art, crafts, related learning, etc.
Step Four: Required Photographs
Below is a list of required photographs. It relates closely to the next section of this study, which is a series of questions for you to answer. The questions are intended to help you think of the many issues that the photographs will document. Please print two copies of your photographs; keep the negatives and one copy of each print. Enclose one copy of the required photographs in an envelope. Be sure to identify each with your name. Keep the negatives and one copy of all photographs. We can't assume responsibility for any losses in handling. You retain the copyright for all photos.
Geographic Features that Dictate City Form
It is impossible to document a city through maps, photos, and words; that’s why you are site-studying. The following photos are assigned for two reasons: to help you understand the city now and to remember it later. What are the significant physical features of your study city, ones that were there before the city: mountains, hills, rivers, rain forests, deserts, seacoast, tropical climate?
1. Take three photographs of physical features that have influenced the city form.
2. Then photograph three ways the city has responded to these features.
Manmade Interventions
What are the most significant human-made interventions on the natural landscape? For example, New York City has a gridded street pattern, an expansive Central Park, and towering skyscrapers; Concord, MA has cow-path street patterning, a village square with church and shops, and stately main streets with towering trees and big homes behind expansive lawns.
1. Photograph three such human intervention features.
Transportation
How does the city handle automobiles and public transportation? Does it have alleys? A decimated downtown pocketed by parking lots? Freeways with overpowering interchanges in the city center? A subway system or tram line? Sky-bridges taking pedestrians off the sidewalks?
1. Photograph three ways transit shapes your study city.
Historical Context
When was the city built? Are there any sections built in a single historical moment? How can you tell?
1. Photograph three different scenes.
Unifying Characteristics
Is there a characteristic material or color scheme, which gives the city part of its character? For example, Santa Fe is an adobe city, Jerusalem a sandstone one, San Francisco a painted one.
1. Photograph examples if any.
Other
1. Include at least six additional photographs of characteristic physical attributes of your study city, which give it its particular
and unique identity.
Step Five: The City Study
Please click on the "Download and Print the Course Pack" link above to view the full course content.
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