Before the First Drawing

What to look for on site

Before arranging rooms, it helps to understand the place they will occupy. The slope, existing trees, neighbouring windows and access from the street all affect what can be built and how it will feel to use.

A site changes during the day. Morning and evening visits reveal different light, noise and traffic. Rain shows where water collects. Talking to the people who use or maintain a building often reveals problems that a measured survey cannot.

These observations help set priorities. An existing wall may provide useful shelter; an opening may already sit in the best place for daylight. Recognising what works gives the design a starting point and helps avoid unnecessary changes.

For a client, this stage is also a chance to test the brief against the site. Views, privacy, access and room sizes can be discussed together before decisions become expensive to reverse.