What is a key characteristic of building cluster layouts?

The key characteristic of building cluster layouts is that buildings relate best at 90 degrees to each other. This arrangement allows for efficient use of space while promoting interaction and accessibility among the different structures. The 90-degree orientation can facilitate easier navigation within the cluster, as it often aligns with pathways, roads, or natural movement routes, thereby enhancing connectivity and flow.

Additionally, this layout can optimize sunlight exposure, ventilation, and aesthetic coherence, as buildings can be strategically placed to complement one another architecturally and functionally. The concept of clustering can foster a community feeling and integrate various functions (e.g., residential, commercial, communal) effectively, which is vital in urban planning and landscape architecture.

The other options do not embody the principles of an effective building cluster layout. Random arrangements would lead to chaos and inefficiency, while avoiding overlapping might not consider the benefits of shared utility spaces. Placing buildings at equal distances can lead to an impractical and inefficient use of space, negating the potential benefits of relational proximity that a cluster layout offers.