If only architects and building designers could design subdivisions…

If architects and building designers could design subdivisions we’d see far fewer allotments with poor daylight access and awkward solar orientation.

Unfortunately, many homes face these challenges—limited access to direct sunlight and less-than-ideal daylight. But with good design, whether renovating or building new, these hurdles can be overcome.

Passive house design aims to retain as much warmth as possible, but there’s more to it than that. In winter, direct sunlight flooding deep into your home not only adds thermal gain but also lifts the quality of everyday living. There’s nothing nicer than enjoying a hot cuppa at your kitchen table with the sun beaming through the windows.

When working with less-than-perfect solar orientation, there are really two ways to bring light into your home: over the top or around the side.

Over the top

usually means adding clerestory windows—high windows set above the roofline or another part of the house—to draw in northern light. This is common in renovations on north-facing blocks and a clever strategy in new builds too. The only limit is how much glazing you can effectively place on the north façade. 

Around the side

works if your block is wide enough. Here, a courtyard design creates a pocket of direct northern sunlight, bringing daylight into the heart of the home. The trade-off is you choose whether you get sunlight from morning to midday or midday to afternoon, depending on the courtyard’s placement.

In both cases, it’s critical to include eaves or other solar control to block harsh summer sun.

If you don’t have any opportunity for north light—maybe your block has epic views but tricky orientation, with lots of glazing facing east or west—external solar control is your friend. Electrically operated external blinds or roller shades are a relatively low-cost, high-impact solution to manage unwanted heat gain.

So in summary we take the opportunity to grab, pinch and squeeze northern sunlight to maximise the comfort warmth and liveability of your home throughout winter. Whilst controlling the sunlight in the shoulder season seasons and especially in summer.

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