This is Episode 3 of Season 1.
In this episode, we continue on our adventure of uncovering what matters most, and what decisions to prioritise when designing your new or renovated home.
In this episode, we’ll talk about all things EAST.
This episode will help you get it right if you’re seeking ways to make your home feel great, and also if you have you have an east-facing home.
So what do you need to be aware of with eastern sunlight?
And how should you optimise this to make your home feel great?
This podcast will teach you how to understand morning sun at your home, and manage it effectively year-round.
Let’s dive deeply into:
- What eastern sunlight is like
- What’s not great about eastern light
- How we need to shade and shelter from eastern light
- Something you may not know about the sunrise everyday
You’ll understand in detail:
- What rooms need to be facing east
- What rooms don’t need to be facing east
- What to do if you have a view but need to shade from morning sun
- Specific solutions to help you with shading
And if you have an east-facing home, you’ll learn:
- What your priorities should be if you’re designing a home for an east-facing orientation
- What can go wrong in designing for eastern sunlight
- What happens when we get this right in our homes
- What else you need to know about designing for an east-facing home
Listen to the podcast now to learn more about eastern sunlight. This can be a preferred orientation for many homeowners, and there are great ways to make the most of it in your home.
And scroll down to see images for some ideas when designing for all things east.
This diagram shows how much the position of the rising sun changes between its most southerly position (on the Summer Solstice) to its most northern on (on the Winter Solstice). On the equinox, it rises due east.
The red line shows where the Summer Solstice sunrise is shining at the home. The blue line shows where the Winter Solstice sunrise is shining at the home. The dashed orange line shows the Equinox sunrise. The yellow arrow shows the extent or range between the most extreme positions of the rising sun.
Here’s some inspiration for your project about how to shield from and enhance easterly sunlight …
These are some photographs of homes located in Salt at Kingscliffe, NSW. Many of them are coastal homes, facing east to fantastic views. They use different strategies to shield from strong morning light, yet maximise their access to their views (which are obviously highly prized for the area!)
This home faces east to the beach and coast. Adjustable shutters fold back along its balcony edges to help screen morning sun. They also provide privacy from the walkway I’m standing on! You can see the louvre-blades tilt, as well as the panels moving back and forwards too. This would also help with coastal winds and storms.
Another upper floor deck facing east. This one has used high level fixed screening to shield from the hotter Summer morning sun, yet allow in the lower level Winter morning sun.
This home is using a combination of strategies to make the most of its easterly view, while grabbing northern sunlight throughout the day. High level windows pull northern light into living areas over the top of the neighbour’s house, and the small build-out on the side of this one. A screen manages northern sunlight on the upper floor balcony. Eastern light on the balcony is screened with the use of an operable blind. It also appears that glass is tinted to manage glare and heat as well.
This home has quite a different aesthetic to most of the homes along this coastal strip. More industrial in style, it also uses strategies to manage its eastern orientation. The fixed blade screen (on the right hand side of this image) manages morning sunlight into large areas of glazing, and also wraps around the northern side. The upper floor balcony provides a deep recessed zone, which is then shaded as a result (and totally conceals the upper floor interior behind it!) This upper floor balcony is also shading a lower floor outdoor area, and interior space.
This home uses fabric blinds to protect the lower floor outdoor area, and interior, from strong sunlight.
See how the dark fabric blind is still quite transparent, to allow views through. The darker the blind, the more transparent it will be!
For further listening …
For the most important thing to know when designing your future home >>> Season 1, Episode 1
Making your home great: All things NORTH >>> Season 1, Episode 2
Making your home great: All things WEST >>> Season 1, Episode 5
Making your home great: All things SOUTH >>> Season 1, Episode 4
With over 30 years industry experience, Amelia Lee founded Undercover Architect in 2014 as an award-winning online resource to help and teach you how to get it right when designing, building or renovating your home. You are the key to unlocking what’s possible for your home. Undercover Architect is your secret ally
Hi UA,
Great podcast! We have bought a block at the beach that faces about east north east, in tropical NQ. Only thing between us and the beach is about 100m of dune reserve with some nice trees to shield that morning glare. Our biggest problem is the 2 story monstrosity on our northern boundary, that in winter manages to shade a large chunk of our yard. Any tips for letting in the light?
Hi Ian,
If you keep listening to the podcasts in this Season 1, they will give you some ideas for grabbing northern light over your neighbour.
Best wishes with creating your new home.
– Amelia, UA
Hi,
Can you please provide the link of the website that you have mentioned in the podcast for further knowledge on the same topic.
Thanks.
Hi Nishtha
We’ve added the extra links at the bottom of the post – hope you enjoy listening,
– Amelia, UA
Hi Amelia,
In our floorplan it seems to work best to have our study facing East, we’ve taken into account the possible harsh morning sun coming in in summer – and will screen as needed so we don’t have too much glare for using computers etc. However my concern is with what the light will be like later in the day – are east facing rooms quite dark in the afternoon? Or will it be more likely to be a softer ambient light that might suit a study?
Thank you for your amazing podcast by the way, it will certainly change our design for the better to implement your wisdom!
Hi Gemma,
You’re welcome, and I’m so glad the information has been helpful for you. If you haven’t left a review, I’d so greatly appreciate it!
As for your question … I expect you will still get ambient light depending on the location and nature of your property (trees, adjacent properties, shadows cast etc). Southern light is often the best for studies, because its indirect light … so this can apply for your afternoon light in an east-facing study.
– Amelia, UA
Would I be able to get some help from you on our new build. I saw your Podcast and website after we have already signed a contract. Need some help please.
Hey Alea,
The best way to access help from Undercover Architect is via UA’s online courses
Once you’ve signed a contract, however, it can be very tricky as you’re already legally committed to that contract, and the documents it refers to.
You may be well served to seek some legal advice if you’re not sure of what you’ve signed up for, or have questions about specific clauses and what they mean for your build.
Amelia, UA
Hi, really finding the podcast helpful so far! We’ve bought a house with east facing street frontage. Currently there are horizontal wooden screens across all windows, which I know helps with sun/heat but finding it dark in the rooms once the morning sun has passed. Would window awnings help with keeping the summer sun out in the morning but let in the winter sun? Or would external shutters with adjustable louvers be the way to go? I’m already thinking adjustable Venetian blinds inside the rooms. Thanks for any insights!
Really enjoying the podcast so far in preparation for our upcoming house renovations! Very helpful, especially regarding orientation as we have a west facing house. Quick question about east facing windows- could window awnings help keep out the high summer sun for heat regulation? I still want to let in winter sun. Or if using adjustable Oliver shutters, should these be on the outside of the house? I am planning Venetian blinds inside. Thanks so much!
Hey Andrea! Wow, we can really see how much you are thinking about your renovations and understanding the movement of the sun on your site is key! Here are some podcasts which you might find helpful.
Season One of the Podcast would be fantastic to review particularly “All things West” and “All things East” >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/podcast/season-1/
Getting it right with your Window and Door Selection >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/before-you-choose-windows-and-doors/
12 Simple Tips to Create a Sustainable Home >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-simple-tips-to-create-a-sustainable-home/
Getting it right with your Window Furnishings >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-id101-diyblinds-curtains-blinds/
I hope you find these resources helpful and we wish you the best on your project journey!