One thing to remember about building the sugar house - you can't move it around once you build it. This sounds rediculous but if you think about it that way, you will force yourself to spend time thinking through all the variables you mention below. I had originally planned some sort of lean-to and getting a hobby evaporator but the good folks at Bascom's said they'd see me next year when I upgraded to a bigger rig

I like having it a little ways from the house (200') but there is the downside of having to run power out there or use a lantern (like me). Lack of power is why I faced it south, used four windows on each side and glass doors on the front so I could get as much natural sunlight as possible.

It would be nice to have it near your collection point if you use tubing but your landscape needs to cooperate to make that work - and you can always run extra main line and pump it to your evaporator feed tank.

Hope that helps. Before I built mine I went to visit a few different sugar houses. Everyone will have a different opinion and most of us are crazy but more ideas are better than fewer