Es_2 Home Analysis - Shadow and Solar Analysis

This time I want to talk about my own house. This will be useful to understand better the influence that both the exposure and the climate have on buildings, and so, on the quality of life for people living inside them.

The building I live in is situated in the north periphery of Rome. It’s a 8- floor high building with only one side exposure apartments. Mine has a North-West orientation.

I live at the 7^th floor with only one side exposure, with a deep balcony in front of the house.

A sky view of the building (the one at the front on the left), with the surroundings.

The apartment is near the top of the building. It’s possible to see the deep balcony in the front.

The influence during winter of the other building around doesn’t regard the side and floors where my apartment is situated. The shadow is caused by the orientation of the building.

Winter morning situation. 21/12 h11. All the façade is in shadow.

Winter early afternoon. 21/12 h14. No light reaches the apartment.

Winter late afternoon. 21/12 h16. Still in shadow.

The shadow analysis shows that we don’t have so much light during the winter season, but thanking the position of the building that’s not so dramatic:

• No buildings in front influencing the weather
• Building situated on a hill
• Apartment at the 7th floor

All this characteristics determine that all the sun light in winter time, even if it’s not direct, but diffused, is sufficient for a good lighting inside the house. This last has another characteristic: a short dimension, by which this problem is not critic.

Summer morning situation. All the façades are shadowed.

Summer midday. 21.06 The balcony protects the house.

 21.06 View from inside to the balcony.

Even there is only diffuse light, aromatic plants can grow up on the balcony.

To guaranteeing the right amount of natural light during the day, there is a hole in the building as an integration of light in the deepest part of the apartments. Thank this bathrooms can have a window.

The amount of light coming from the window is enough for a small room as bathroom.

In summer time the direct solar radiation reach windows only in late afternoon, guaranteeing a low amount of radiation during all the day.

Summer afternoon. 21/06 h16

21/06 h16

 21/06 h17 The light reaches the winter garden we have built. But do not reach the house inside, and thanking the winter garden we can have a good ventilation.

Summer late afternoon. 21/06 h.18 The radiation reach the apartment.

I've continued the analysis with the Solar Radiation, calculated for the transparent surface.

Winter situation. Cumulative values of solar radiation in the date 21/12.

Summer situation. Cumulative values for the date 21/06. In the hottes points we have 0.2 kWh/mq. 

The solar radiation analysis confirm that the problem for this exposure is mostly the low amount of radiation during winter.