BArch Bachelor of Architecture Site Planning & Urban Design 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a setback requirement in US zoning codes?
- Establish minimum distances buildings must be placed from property lines or streets (Correct answer)
- Define the maximum building height allowed on a parcel
- Specify the minimum lot coverage percentage
- Regulate the number of dwelling units per acre
Correct answer: Establish minimum distances buildings must be placed from property lines or streets
Setbacks are mandatory minimum distances between a building and property lines, rights-of-way, or other features, controlling building placement to ensure light, air, privacy, and fire separation.
Question 2: In site design, what does 'floor area ratio' (FAR) measure?
- Ratio of total building floor area to total lot area (Correct answer)
- Percentage of the lot covered by impervious surfaces
- Height-to-width ratio of the building
- Ratio of parking spaces to building area
Correct answer: Ratio of total building floor area to total lot area
FAR is the total gross floor area of all building stories divided by the total area of the lot, used by zoning codes to control building density and massing.
Question 3: Which type of contour map analysis helps architects identify slopes too steep for building construction on a site?
- Slope analysis (Correct answer)
- Soil percolation test
- Sun path analysis
- Watershed delineation
Correct answer: Slope analysis
Slope analysis maps the gradient of terrain across a site by calculating percent slope from contour intervals, identifying areas suitable for construction, roads, or conservation.
Question 4: What US federal law most directly governs the design of accessible pedestrian routes and paths of travel on a site?
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (Correct answer)
- Fair Housing Act
- Rehabilitation Act Section 504
- OSHA standards
Correct answer: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA (1990) and its 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design mandate accessible routes connecting parking, transit, entrances, and site elements for public and commercial facilities.
Question 5: In sustainable site design, what is a bioswale primarily used for?
- Filter and slow stormwater runoff using vegetation and soil (Correct answer)
- Provide irrigation water storage for landscaping
- Create wildlife habitat corridors only
- Reduce solar heat gain on paved surfaces
Correct answer: Filter and slow stormwater runoff using vegetation and soil
A bioswale is a vegetated channel that slows stormwater runoff, allows infiltration, and filters pollutants through plants and engineered soil before water reaches storm drains or natural water bodies.
Question 6: What does 'mixed-use zoning' allow in US municipalities?
- Multiple land uses (residential, commercial, retail) within the same building or district (Correct answer)
- Only residential and light industrial uses together
- Unlimited building height in commercial zones
- Override of setback requirements for corner lots
Correct answer: Multiple land uses (residential, commercial, retail) within the same building or district
Mixed-use zoning permits combinations of residential, commercial, retail, and sometimes light industrial uses within the same building or zoning district, supporting walkability and urban vitality.
BArch Bachelor of Architecture Site Planning & Urban Design 1
What is the purpose of a setback requirement in US zoning codes?