24 Map Themes for Different Site Analysis Types

Why Theme Choice Matters

The right map theme can make your site analysis clearer and more impactful. Different themes suit different analysis types and presentation contexts.

ArchiKEK's 24 Themes Explained

Urban Form Themes

1. Figure Ground

Best for: Pure urban morphology analysis

• Black buildings on white background
• Classic architectural representation
• Maximum contrast and clarity

2. Nolli

Best for: Public space analysis

• Inspired by Giambattista Nolli's 1748 Rome map
• Shows building mass vs public realm
• Warm, historic aesthetic

3. Solid Void

Best for: Mass studies

• Similar to figure ground, inverted options
• Focus on positive/negative space
• Clean, minimal presentation

Atmospheric Themes

4. Midnight

Best for: Dramatic presentations

• Dark background with glowing elements
• Modern, tech-forward aesthetic
• Great for digital presentations

5. Blueprint

Best for: Technical presentations

• Classic blue engineering drawing style
• Professional, technical feel
• Works well printed or digital

6. Satellite

Best for: Realistic context

• Earth-tone colors
• Natural, geographic feeling
• Good for environmental analysis

Analytical Themes

7. Terrain

Best for: Topography focus

• Emphasizes elevation and contours
• Natural color palette
• Ideal for sloped sites

8. Infrastructure

Best for: Circulation analysis

• Highlights roads and transit
• Shows connectivity
• Good for access studies

9. Land Use

Best for: Zoning analysis

• Color-coded by use type
• Shows urban diversity
• Planning-focused

Minimal Themes

10. Minimal Light

Best for: Clean presentations

• Subtle, muted colors
• Easy to annotate over
• Won't compete with your design

11. Minimal Dark

Best for: Modern presentations

• Dark mode aesthetic
• Sophisticated look
• Great for screens

Special Themes

12. Vintage

Best for: Historic sites

• Aged paper aesthetic
• Classic cartography style
• Nostalgic feeling

13. Neon

Best for: Creative presentations

• Bold, vibrant colors
• Unconventional approach
• Stand out from typical analysis

Choosing the Right Theme

Consider Your Purpose

• Academic jury? Classic themes (Figure Ground, Blueprint)
• Client presentation? Atmospheric themes (Midnight, Satellite)
• Publication? Clean themes (Minimal Light/Dark)

Consider Your Site

• Dense urban? Figure Ground works great
• Natural landscape? Terrain or Satellite
• Historic district? Vintage or Nolli

Consider Your Design Style

Match your analysis maps to your overall presentation aesthetic.

Try Them All

Preview is free—experiment with different themes to find what works.

Explore Themes →