| As specialist builders of custom designed projects,
we have constructed many houses and multiunit dwellings
that cleverly incorporate the sun into its architecture.
These units enable the users to enjoy the warmth and
light of the sun in winter, while sheltering its intense
heat in summer.
The following article outlines a few suggestions of
how to include the sun in your custom designed projects.
Whether you are building a townhouse, an apartment block,
a multiunit project, or your very own luxury home, the
principles behind these tips are always applicable.
How to Plan your Project to Enjoy the Sun
To effectively utilise the sun, the first step is to
plan the location of rooms and openings according to
the suns orientation. The thing to remember is that
in Australia, the sun, for the most part, is in the
northern section of our sky. Generally speaking, most
windows should, therefore, be facing north, while windows
facing other directions should be kept small to prevent
heat loss.
The following outlines the locations of openings
and rooms for you to better enjoy the sun:
Orientation |
Notes |
Openings |
Rooms |
North |
Experiences the most sunlight throughout the
day |
Most of the windows to your dwelling should
be facing North. It is recommended to have multiple
large windows facing this direction to capture
the sun’s warmth and light all day. |
Rooms that are commonly used throughout the
day, such as:
• Living Rooms
• Dining Room
• Terrace/Deck
• Studies
|
East |
Captures the morning sun. |
It is a good idea to have some windows facing
this direction, particularly to spaces which are
used in the morning. |
Rooms that are commonly used in the mornings,
such as:
• Bathrooms & Ensuites
• Kitchen
• Bedrooms
|
West |
Captures the intense and glaring sun, as well
as the beautiful sunset. |
Smaller windows recommended as glare and intensity
of sun may not be comfortable, particularly in
summer. However, the view of the setting sun can
be quite spectacular, therefore, the including
of some openings may still be a good idea. |
Rooms that do not require constant light, or
spaces that may used in evenings to enjoy sunset:
• Bathrooms & Powder
• Laundry
• Bedrooms
• Dining
• Terrace/Deck
|
South |
Captures little direct sunlight, but does have
constant indirect, diffused lighting from sky |
Windows should be kept small to prevent heat
loss. Indirect light may be enjoyable if diffused
lighting - where little glare and no heat intensity
is desired. |
Rooms that require indirect light:
• Bedrooms
• Studios
• Galleries
|
Sun Shading Devices
While it is good to capture the warmth of the sun during
the winter, it is also desirable to keep out the intense
summer sun. This is done through sun shading devices,
including roof overhangs, louvers, and vegetation. In
general, sun shading is essential for windows facing
north and west, and but not for those facing east and
south.
Sun shading to the North: Roof Overhang
Roof overhangs are useful sun shading devices for North-facing
windows that capture the sun in winter while shading
from the sun in summer. An effective roof overhang is
one that intercepts all the sun of the summer solstice
(when the sun is highest and most intense) while allowing
more light to enter until the winter solstice (when
the sun is lowest and least intense) where the entire
window will be bathed in sunlight. The design of such
an overhang is dependant on how far it is projected
out from the roof for that particular opening. The following
diagram illustrates how this can be achieved:
Sun shading to the West: Louvers and Vegetation
As the sun angle of the setting sun is very low, roof
overhangs are ineffective for west facing windows and
vertical sun shading devices should be used instead.
Louvers are an effective way to shade vertically, as
they still allow for some ventilation and visual connectivity
to the outdoors.
Another effective vertical sun shading device is the
use of vegetation. Trees and bushes provide a very comfortable
shade for both indoors and outdoors, especially over
terraces and gardens.
Keeping a Balance: Tips for Using the Sun in Difficult
Situations
The Ideal Site
The ideal site that easily incorporates the sun into
the design of its dwelling is one that:
• Is oriented in the north-south direction
• Has a street front facing south and the back
garden towards the north;
• Has no buildings directly adjacent
• Has a beautiful view to the north
In most cases this is not possible and compromises
need to be made. The key is to keep a balance between
the effective use of the sun, and other factors of the
site, including site orientation, views, adjacent buildings
(overlooking and overshadowing issues), council requirements
(including heritage controls), etc.
Tips for Sites Oriented in the East-West Direction
For a site oriented in the east-west direction, it
is recommended that the dwelling be recessed away from
the northern boundary to allow for some light to enter
from the north and not overshadowed by adjacent buildings.
If the dwelling is double storey, making the floor
area of the upper floor smaller than the ground floor
– with a larger recess from the northern boundary
– may allow for large openings to be used on top,
which is ideal for a first floor living room, balcony
or roof terrace.
Tips for Sites with Beautiful Views not to the North
If the site is blessed with a beautiful view, but not
towards the north of the site, it may be a good idea
to extend your living space from the north side of the
dwelling to the side with the view – allowing
you to enjoy both sunlight and vista. A view to the
west may need louvers to be used as vertical sun shading
while still allowing some visibility to the outside.
Get an Experienced Architect or Draftsman to Help
In such cases where a balance between sun orientation
and other factors is difficult to achieve, it is recommended
that an experienced architect or draftsman be nominated,
and that you work closely with them in developing your
dwelling. Most architects will have a basic understanding
of the information discussed here, and will be able
to produce architectural solutions to such issues.
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