The Surroundings
Very few buildings stand all by themselves in the middle of a field, so to speak. They are usually situated in a village or urban context, be it loosely associated or closely integrated. This makes any building a neighbor of others, which in turn relate to it as neighbors. When a new building is erected, it is metaphorically a newcomer, a stranger, an intruder. The buildings surrounding the new arrival are older to various extents. Consideration has to be given to them, in whichever way is required. This might be with regard to the new structure's minimum distance from the property boundary, as laid down by law, or its scale and massing, or its shape and the facade composition. Whether a building fits in with its surroundings or sets itself apart may depend as much on underlying parameters – such as plot utilization ratios or conservation requirements – as on the builders, clients, and architects.