“When you stop learning, stop listening, stop looking and asking questions,
always new questions, then it is time to die.”
Lillian Smith (American Writer 1897-1966)
Yesterday I had a meeting with a local independent architect to discuss some of the details pertaining to the Ranch House project I'm working on. He is helping by providing his expert advice and opinions regarding the unique site conditions and overall building structure.
One of the main challenges for this project is the site location of the new building. There are some existing environmental implications, outstanding functionality questions, and financial considerations that are greatly affecting the building's placement, all limiting us differently in each location.
Although the general purpose of the meeting was to gain information for this particular project, which I did; I feel like I should share one of the unique techniques I learned during our time together as he was mentoring me. We were discussing the positives and negatives of the site orientation and he introduced a very cool new tool called a sun rose.
Image courtesy of: http://www.solosol.net/sun_path_calculator.html
This tool, which I recognized from my college astronomy notes, helps understand how to position the building in such a way so that you can utilize the natural path of the sun to provide ample lighting, particularily sunlight, into the architectural environment. UREKA!
How to use a Sun Rose: Orient the diagram "N" on the site plan's North, so that all corresponding directions are lined up. Depending on the specific latitude location of your site, the sun rises and sets at different degrees in the sky during the summer and winter solistice. You can then determine how to place your structure, windows, doors, etc. and somewhat control the natural light input and output.
Want to read more on this topic?
Check out this book by architect William C. Lam
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