The orientation of the home is often forgotten, especially when looking to design and build or buy a new home. However, sunlight, winds and views cannot be easily controlled with human intervention – we cannot change the orientation to suit our needs later without major time-consuming and pricey renovations.
How does the orientation affect our health and well-being?
Sunlight • With Southern exposure (in the Northern hemisphere) we can maximize the daylight of the living and work spaces and otherwise physically active areas. The sunlight keeps us awake, refreshed and productive. • Exposure to the East is best suited for bedrooms to help our circadian rhythm and wake up naturally. • The family and dining areas should ideally be located on the West to capture the evening sun. • The soft and even Northern light (if living in the Northern hemisphere) is best suited for arts and crafts spaces.
Winds • If living in a hot climate, the home should have more windows in the prevailing wind direction. This will help with natural ventilation and reduce the need for use of air conditioning, which is not great for our health and our pockets. • If living in a cold climate, the home should have fewer windows in the prevailing wind direction. This way unpleasant draft will be reduces helping with thermal comfort. In addition, the need for excessive insulation will be reduced.
Views and nature • Unobstructed views, connection to nature and openness in the home are extremely beneficial to our well-being, energizing and recharging us. Studies have shown, people heal faster after surgery if they have a view of nature. • A slice of nature in our home provides us the privacy and comfort of the home combined with the invigorating and healing strength of nature.
The main takeaway is that we should pay attention to the orientation of a home when designing or deciding to purchase it because it can influence our experience in the home.
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Drop me a line to design the perfect home for your family! Ana Ana Koleva Miller, RA, NCARB, Fitwel Amb.