SLOPE

Ar. Gerelson Ray Bernardino

Shaira Mae T. Calibo

February 1, 2024
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction…………………………………………………………………….2

Slopes and structures…………………………………………………………2

Slope analysis………………………………………………………………….4

Slope and angle of repose……………………………………………………6

Types of maps………………………………………………………………….7

• Road Map………………………………………………………………8
• Cadaster Map………………………………………………………….9
• Dot Distribution Map…………………………………………………..9
• Thematic Map……………………………………………..……….….10

Conclusion………………………………………………………………………11

Recommendations…………………………………………….……………….12

References…………………………………………………….………………..13

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Introduction

A vital aspect of architectural design is the architecture slope, sometimes

referred to as the inclination or gradient. The term "slope" describes the angle of an
incline or drop of a surface, and it is an important factor in defining a building's stability,
accessibility, and general attractiveness. In regard to architectural design, slope adds
a dynamic and transforming element to the constructed environment. The study of
slope in architecture is a crucial component that extends beyond aesthetics and has
significant effects on sustainability, usability, and the built environment as a whole. This
paper explores the various facets of slope in architectural design with the goal of
elucidating its importance, influence, and the complex relationship between form and
function that it generates.

Architects are forced to consider innovative strategies that take advantage of

slope when the built environment changes in response to environmental, social, and
technological issues. This study attempts to close the knowledge gap between theory
and practice by offering insights into how architects might use slope to design settings
that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also sustainable and functionally sound.
The report evolves through a methodical investigation of several aspects associated
with architectural slope. This study aims to provide a thorough overview of the many
ways that slope is expressed in architectural practice, from a look at historical
precedents that have used slope for practical and symbolic reasons to a close
examination of modern projects that push the limits of design innovation.

By doing this, I intend to stimulate further investigation into the potential of slope
as a design tool among researchers, architects, and urban planners. Architects can
create places that improve the human experience overall and respond harmoniously
to their environment by acknowledging and embracing the nuances of slope.

Slopes and Structures

Slope started to play a significant role in architecture during the Renaissance,

when designers started to prioritize a building's aesthetic qualities over its functional
needs. Filippo Brunelleschi, a 15th-century Italian architect and engineer, was among
the first to understand the significance of slope in architectural design. The Florence
Cathedral's dome, which used a double-shell structure with an inner shell that sloped
sharply to provide more stability and less stress on the building's walls, is the work for
which Brunelleschi is best known.

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 To calculate slope, architects use a variety of methods and tools. One of the
most common is the slope ratio, which expresses the angle of incline or decline as a
ratio of the horizontal distance traveled. For example, a slope of 1:12 means that for
every 12 feet of horizontal distance, there is a one-foot change in elevation. Architects
can compute slope using trigonometric functions and other mathematical procedures
in addition to slope ratio. Nevertheless, a surveying tool like a theodolite or a laser level
is frequently used to measure slope.

All things considered, the history and development of architectural design have
been greatly influenced by the idea of slope. Architects have understood the value of
slope in designing stable, aesthetically pleasing, and useful buildings since the dawn
of civilization. Slope is still used by architects today to produce ground-breaking,
inspirational designs that stretch the bounds of what is possible in the field.

According to James Bartolacci, whether it's a rocky, steep terrain or a softly

rolling hill, a sloped site makes for an interesting backdrop for a house that differs from
typical flat lots. In contrast to horizontal typography, which places all buildings at the
same level, a slope enables home rooflines to vary across the site, resulting in more
broad, uninterrupted views. However, whereas mountainous sites offer expansive
views, they also pose difficulties for architects.

Architects must correctly minimize the degree of slope in the foundation design
because dwellings often sit perpendicular to the site. Higher foundations result from
steeper angles, which might occasionally give the impression that a house is supported
on a pedestal. An alternative would be to dig the bottom stories of the houses into the
earth, leaving half of the living areas below ground.

Even though there are technical challenges in building, inclined sites might
inspire creative new architectural options that aren't achievable on level sites.
Improved vistas, a distinctive interior layout, solitude created with several levels, and
much more. On sloping terrain, floating buildings can be built with supports or a higher
foundation. However, some architects have also designed structures that bury
themselves entirely or partially in the slope, or they even follow the incline. Here are
some examples of how architects have used sloped slopes to their advantage to create
distinctive private residences and public buildings.

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 https://bit.ly/TreetophouseinFarnhamUnitedkingdom

An example of a house built in a slope is the Treetops House designed by

Architect Olly Bray. Built in Farnham, United Kingdom with an area of 704 m2. Treetops
is a modern home with traditional features that is situated on a steeply slope plot and
surrounded by pine trees. Its majestic and big party rooms are designed to provide its
occupants with a cozy and welcoming refuge, all while maintaining a modern aesthetic.
The back of the building forms a sequence of layer terraces, balconies, and louvers
that extend into the treetops in response to the site's unique topography. The warm
textures of rich iroko timber and buff brick decorating the façade allow the structure to
merge into its untamed surroundings, while the stacking of elevations gives depth and
movement. Inside, spaces range from the expansive kitchen, dining, and entertaining
area, with double-height glazing drawing the eye out to the panoramic woodland views,
to cozy sunken lounges and a timber-clad meditation room and study. Maintaining a
connection with the outside was another key element of the brief.

Slope Analysis

One must first comprehend what slope is and how it is measured in order to
perform slope analysis in architecture. Slope can be defined as the angle formed by a
surface with respect to the horizontal plane. A horizontal surface has a slope of zero
and a vertical surface has a slope of ninety degrees. It is commonly measured in
degrees.

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 Slope analysis is a necessary skill for architects for a variety of reasons. In
certain situations, the architect might have to decide how to best route water runoff
away from the building. In other situations, the architect might need to know how a
site's slope can impact solar gain and sunlight exposure. Slope analysis is also useful
for determining potential landslide dangers and evaluating a site's stability.

The computation of slope can be done in a variety of ways. The most popular
approach involves using a clinometer, an instrument for measuring angles. Using a
theodolite or a laser level are two other techniques. Once the slope of a surface has
been measured, it can then be graphed on a graph paper. Slope analysis is an
important tool for architects and should be used whenever possible to help with the
design process.

This question lacks a solid response because it primarily depends on the

particular project and the architect's objectives. Nonetheless, a slope analysis can be
carried out in a few general ways. The terrain, climate, and vegetation of the site must
all be identified by the architect in order to determine its current circumstances. The
architect must then decide what the project's intended goals are. The architect will then
decide on a suitable technique for carrying out the slope study based on these
considerations. Transect analysis, grid analysis, and contour mapping are examples
of common techniques. After the analysis is finished, the architect can utilize the
findings to guide the project's design.

To calculate slope, divide the difference in elevation between two points by their
distance from one another to find the percent slope, and then multiply the quotient by
100. The rise is the difference in height between two points. The run is the distance
measured between the sites. Percent slope is therefore equal to (rise / run) × 100.

By accessing the color analysis dialog and choosing the "slope" option, one
can ascertain the slope of a given terrain. This will provide you with a graphical
depiction of the topography's slope, which you can use to decide how to move through
the area most effectively. To show topography in site analysis, analyze that the Earth's
surface relief in three dimensions is known as topography. It is measured by
connecting points of same elevation, which are known as the topographic contours.
Slope is measured by the distance between one point to another point, and this
distance is divided by the lateral distance between them.

As site location and wind direction may provide details about the local climate
and topography, they are important considerations in site analysis. This data can be
utilized to evaluate the possible effects of a new development on the surrounding

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environment or to choose the ideal site for a new development. An instrument for
assessing the stability of embankments, naturally occurring slopes in rock and soil,
excavated slopes, and earth- and rock-fill dams is sloping stability analysis. The ability
of sloped soil or rock slopes to tolerate or experience movement is referred to as slope
stability. Slope stability analysis is used to find the critical failure plane and a slope's
factor of safety.

Slope and Angle of Repose

https://bit.ly/Angleofrepose

There are four key concepts in understanding slopes: physics, gravity, forces,
and angle of repose. Soil and snow, being granular materials, tend to pile up quite
nicely. However, the materials will begin to slide down the slope if the slope angle
becomes too severe. The angle of repose, or critical slope angle, varies depending on
the kind of material.

Granular materials will accumulate into a conical pile when poured onto a level
surface. The pile will increase in size as you add additional stuff. Eventually, though,
the pile's slope angle will remain constant. This is due to the fact that some material
will slide down the pile as it expands and its slope reaches a particular inclination. The
steepest angle at which material can be piled without slipping down is known as the
angle of repose. Two distinct components make up the gravitational force acting on
the material on the slope: the normal force, which draws the material into the slope in
a direction perpendicular to the slope surface. In fact, the normal force pulls the slope's

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grains inward, keeping the material from sliding downhill and helping to retain the
grains together. Frictional forces between the grains may also hold the material
together, depending on the kind and shape of the material. Because of this, irregularly
shaped grains with interlocking properties typically have a higher angle of repose. The
second gravitational component is the shear force, which pulls the grains down the
slope in a direction parallel to the slope’s surface. The steeper the slope the higher the
shear force will be. At some point, the shear force will overcome the normal force of
gravity. This is usually the moment the materials start sliding down the slope and the
angle of repose is reached.

Typically, when we think about slope, we picture hillsides and the difference
between a steep and a gentle slope. The slope steepness affects significant land-use
decisions and several geologic phenomena, including land sliding consequences, such
as slope stability and whether a slope effectively drains rainwater or turns into a marsh.
A slope's steepness can be represented as an angle, with 0° denoting a flat surface.
Most natural slopes are 30° or less, however a vertical cliff might be as steep as 90°.
Another way to indicate slope is as a gradient, or the relationship between the
horizontal length over a slope's change in elevation which the alteration happens. In
algebra terms, it is the rise over the run. For example, if a slope drops 10 meters over
a distance of 100 meters, it has a gradient of 0.1 (i.e., 10/100). On highway signs, this
number is multiplied by 100 to convert it to a percent, and written as “% grade”. A road
that drops 5 meters in a distance of 100 meters has a gradient of 0.05 (5/100), or a 5%
grade (5/100 × 100%). Highway grades are rarely more than 8%.

Types of Maps

One of the most popular methods for representing and disseminating

architectural concepts and designs is architecture mapping. You will almost always
need to analyze, investigate, or create maps at some point during an architectural
project. In the architectural design process, maps and mapping techniques are
employed in a multitude of ways to support design decisions. Site analysis, concept
design and development, and communication and visualization are a few of these
applications that will be discussed.

The different types of maps are: physical maps, topographic maps, zoning
maps, political maps, historical maps, cadastral maps, circulation maps (floor plans
can be maps), figure ground maps/Nolli maps, material source maps,

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environmental/biodiversity maps, geological maps, climatic maps, economic maps,
transportation maps, navigational charts, utility maps, GIS (Geographic Information
Systems) maps, chordal maps, heat maps, proportional symbol maps, dot density
maps, and animated time-series maps.

Road Map

http://tinyurl.com/mr3x57rk

Road maps, also referred to as route maps, are navigational maps that also
show political boundaries, which makes them part of political maps. In addition to
showing roads and boundaries, road maps also highlight certain points of interest, such
as tourist sites, prominent buildings, recreational facilities like parks and restaurants,
train stations, and airports. The maps come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and scales.
Small maps are used to show the general outline of a region's major roads or routes,
while large maps provide more detailed information over a larger area. Road maps
often use thinner lines to indicate minor roads and thicker or bolder colors to indicate
major roads. A road atlas is a collection of road maps bound together in a book.

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Cadaster Map

http://tinyurl.com/ych3jscy

A cadaster map shows the true state of a country, including the location, area,
ownership, value, and tenure of each parcel of property. According to the International
Federation of Surveyors, a cadaster is an up-to-date land information system that holds
records of land interests, including rights, obligations, and restrictions. It also includes
the land's geometric description and is used in conjunction with other records that
describe the nature of the interest, its controls, and the parcel's boundary; certain maps
also display additional information, like the parcel's identification number, survey
district name, and certificate of the land, names of nearby streets and the locations of
existing structures.

Dot Distribution Map

As the name implies, a dot distribution map is a kind of cartography that relies on
visual scatters to display spatial patterns and employs dot symbols to denote the
presence of objects. One-to-one and one-to-man dot distribution maps are the two

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 primary varieties. Every dot in a one-to-one dot map represents a single feature
recording. A dot on a one-to-man dot map indicates that more than one feature is
being mapped, but because the dots are randomly put on the map, the dot
distribution does not reveal the precise location of the dots. Maps with dot distribution
are useful for features that exhibit smooth spatial changes. However, the mar's ability
to convey its messages can be compromised by the dots' irregular arrangement.

http://tinyurl.com/3v4rfs7f

Thematic Map

http://tinyurl.com/mr3wah3t

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 A map created to emphasize a subject associated with a particular region is
known as a thematic map. A thematic map concentrates on a particular topic area and
employs base data exclusively as a point of reference for the feature being mapped,
in contrast to a general reference map that displays a variety of phenomena
(geographical, political, and geological). Thematic Mars also highlighted the regional
variance in other geographical distributions, including people density, health, and
climate. The map has three basic functions: it may be used to compare patterns on
multiple maps, provide broad information about the spatial pattern, and provide
information about a single piece of information.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding slope in architecture is important for forming and

characterizing the built environment. Slopes contribute significantly to accessibility,
sustainability, and utility in addition to aesthetic value, as can be shown from a thorough
examination of a variety of architectural buildings. A closer look of sloping designs
demonstrates that they can improve visual appeal and provide visually stimulating,
dynamic areas. Slopes also optimize load distribution and offer creative solutions for
difficult terrain, enhancing the overall structural integrity of buildings.

The report also emphasizes how crucial it is to take sustainability into account
when designing architectural projects. Energy efficiency can be increased by using
slanted designs, which can also lessen soil erosion, improve water drainage, and
capture natural light. This concern for the environment is in line with the current trend
of eco-friendly and sustainable building. Slope integration into architectural design also
improves accessibility by creating environments that are more inclusive and
accommodating to people with a range of mobility demands. Ramps, tiered
landscapes, and thoughtfully planned pathways are some of the ways that architects
can create surroundings that are both aesthetically pleasing and widely accessible.

The study of slope in architecture covers structural innovation, sustainability,

and accessibility in addition to its visual appeal. Architects are helping to shape a
constructed environment that is both aesthetically pleasing and adaptable to the many
demands of its occupants and the surrounding ecosystem by exploring and
implementing slope designs. Future architectural projects will benefit from this

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research, which promotes a comprehensive strategy that strikes a balance between
form, function, and environmental responsibility.

Recommendations

It is evident based on thorough investigation of slope in architecture that

establishing both reliability and aesthetic harmony in constructed environments need
a thorough grasp of this essential component. This study explores slope from a number
of angles, including how it affects architectural structural durability, design, and utility.
Through an examination of both historical and modern instances, the research
pinpoints the ways in which slopes may be deliberately utilized to improve aesthetic
appeal, maximize spatial efficiency, and tackle environmental issues. Furthermore, the
results underscore the importance of using inventive technical solutions to alleviate
any hazards linked to sloping terrains. This study extends to the body of knowledge on
architectural design theory while also offering useful advice that engineers, architects,
and urban planners may use to build environmentally friendly, aesthetically pleasing
buildings. This study is a useful tool for professionals attempting to understand the
intricacies of slope integration in architectural undertakings as the built environment
develops.

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References

Slopes and Structures:

Tips for Building on a Sloped Terrain (firstinarchitecture.co.uk)

Smart Inclinations: 8 Stunning Structures Shaped By Their Sloping Sites

(architizer.com)

Slope Analysis:

How to do slope analysis in architecture? - Architecture (architecturemaker.com)

Calculating Slope and Common Slopes in Architecture - Archtoolbox

Slope and angle of repose:

Slippery Slopes, and the Angle of Repose | Scientific American

Angles of Repose (engineeringtoolbox.com)

Microsoft Word - 2C_box2.doc (asu.edu)

Types of maps:

Diffrent types of map - different maps used in architecture - Different types of map
Topographic Map - Studocu

Architecture Mapping (firstinarchitecture.co.uk)

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