7

Orientation

7:1. Introduction
the building, Proper
choosen the site, the next step is proper orientation of
After having manner and direction, that
orientation means setting plan of the proposed building in such a
future occupants of the building would enjoy whatever is good and
avoid whatever is bad from
the natural elements, such as sun, wind and rain. In tropical countries orientation of the build
ingscarries very much significance. Improperly oriented building may prove very trouble some
The word orientation does not imply only to the direction of the front but it also implies to the
back and two side facings also. Good orientation involves proper placement of rooms in
relation to the sun. wind, rain. topograpy and outlook and at the same time providing a con-
venient access both to the street and back yard. It is because of the surroundings of the site
proximity of streets, and other factors, such as privacy and protection against the nuisance.of
noise and dust, that a building has to be oriented to face particular direction

According to the Hindu orthodex principles a building should not face the south. But it
is also mentioned that if there is another house constructed in front of this house facing north,
there is no objection in having face of the house towards south.
The orientation of the building should be such that it allows neiter excessive nor
deficient amount of air and light to enter the building.
India is a tropical country where exten-
sive summer season prevails for almost eight months and there is no
deficiency of light. Here
efforts are directed to prevent entrance of excessive light into the
building.
The building
exposed most to the sun, gets heated up during the day and remains hot till late night. In most
of the western countries of Europe, an aspect which gives the maximum
sunshine,
is preferred.
In those latitudes,
the sun never goes over head and remains always to the south
of the zenith.
Besides, the climate of those places being very cold, the warmth of the sun is most
Hence in those countries southern aspect is preferred as it enjoyable.
gives the maximum sunshine through
out the year.
7 2. Effect of Sun

By day time the direct heating of the walls and roof of

sun causes
the house but by
night it is indirect. Stones, bricks etc. of which the walls
and roofs are
heat by day which they slowly radiate by composed, absorb sun's
night. While doing so, the air in contact with them
is heated, which is the real cause of discomfort
by night. Hence, proper orientation
protect the house trom both i.e. sun's direct heat by day and the must
indirect one by night. The
total heat absorbed depends on two factors Such
as intensity and
duration
of exposure to sun
 139
Orientation
amount of sunshine
in the morning
orientation must be to admit
the required in the
he aim of proper reduce its duration
of its heat is less and to
When it is very pleasant and the intensity In the noon-time
the
to enter the house.
evening when its rays are again likely
afternoon and to enter the house
and therefore, its rays are not likely
Sun 1s generally over head in the tropics fall more and more
kill disease germs. As the sun rises, its rays
to
The sun's rays are potent The moisture in the air also slowly
concentrated.
heat becomes more and m o r e
vertically and absorbed. In the afternoon and evening,
even

the heat rays are less and less

disappears and heat rays which are no longer
absorbed
slanting, the air being dry,
though the rays
are again and charming as it is in the
the evening sun is not so pleasant
are intensely felt. That is why
morning. When house have had
is not only desirable but welcome.
inside the house
Sunshine windows on this side is not
should be shat off. Mere closing down of
enough of sunshine it heat the walls and their
radiation will make the r o o m s
that it will still
sufficient because in
case
set that
should therefore, be so
uncomfortable. The face of the building
on that side quite of the windows in late
entering the room without closing
sun's rays will automatically stop time
The r o o m s which are mostly
occupied during the day
hours of the morning in summer.
the inflow of
o r sun shades to regulate
windows with projecting chhajjahs
should have large as soon as the morning
be so located and projected
beyond the wall that
sunshine. They should should be automatically cut
and the air becomes w a r m its rays
a certain height is welcome and enjoyed
sun rises above However, the sun
shade on window area.
off by the projecting easting therefore be accumplished if
the sun
in summer. The ideal would
winter than about
much longer in raised or lowered and also rotated
are capable of being
shades are so designed
that they and at any
them in any desired position
angle so as to keep
horizontal axis at varying late evening sun from penetra.
a
to the s e a s o n .
n order t0 exclude
according be provided. For proper
desired inclination and west side have to
verandahs on the south
deep
ting into the house, verandahs etc, it is
essential to know the sun path
and its
sunshades,
planning of windows, to the location of the proposed
building.
though out the year with respect
variation
range of the facto
as discussed
above is not only
Wind and humidity.
Regulation of sunshine
and direction the relative humidity
towards comfort. Proper wind intensity
which contributes than heat of sun. Relative humidity in the air is
e v e n more important
in the air perhaps
are
altitude of the place. It is general
of site to sea and also upon
dependent upon the
nearness
of sea coast places a still atmosphere
of low and equable temperature
experience that in spite causes greater
discomfort at those places than a
materially help evaporation,
which does not a brecze. A high humidity
in dry,arid plains, accompanied by
temperature
comparatively high calm and sti'l, which
does not cause evaporation
and if the atmosphere be
causes perspiration the result.
what is called sult riness is
the surface of the human body,
from exact angle depends upon
s u m m e r is between
west and south. The
Direction of wind in
comfort from the breeze the
influences. In order to derive the maximum
of local and west directions, But it
a number
must be located in south
which are occupicd by night
bed rooms heated and the radiation of their heat
to the afternoon sun they get
exposcd
they are directly r e o m s hot
an uncomlortable.
Hence deep verandah
the brec7e and m:ake
by night will
warm
140
Building Planning Designing and Scheduling
both the south and west are
on
necessary. Hence locate all the rooms which are
occupied by day on the North and East and bed rooms which are usually
usually accupied during
nights in the direction of the prevailing wind and provide deep open verandah to
from the heat of the afternoon sun. protect them

7:3. Factors Affecting the Orientation

Thefactors that affect orientation most, are the following:
1 Solar heat. Solar heat means sun heat. The building should receive maximum
solar ádiation in winter and minimum in summer. For evaluation of solar
radiation it is
essential to know the duration of sunshine and hourly solar
intensity on exposed surfaces. The
solar radiation on any surface (,) can be computed from the following formula
I=, (Sin p Sin p-+Cos p Cos a Cos 9)
where I,=Solar radiation for different angles of incident
T=Solar radiation on the normal surface
=Solar altitude
a=Wallsolar azimuth
=Angle of cut of the surface from vertical, p is zero for vertical and 90° for
horizontal surface.
For a,
B and o see Fig. 72. The value of I, can be read from Fig. 71. This formula
gives solar energy/hour/unit surface area normal to the rays under slandard atmospheric condi-
tions for different altitudes of the sun.

Wind direction. The winds in winter are avoided and in summer they are accepted
in the house to the niaximum extent.

3 Humidity. High humidity which is a common phenomenon in coastal areas,

causesperspiration which is very uncomfortable condition. Calm and still atmosphere do not
cause any evaporation from the surface of human body and cause very uncomfortable perspira-
tion.
Rainfall. Direction and intensity of rainfall affects the drainage of the site and
hence vital from orientation point of view.
5. Antensity of wind. Intensity of wind in hilly regions is generally
such windów openings of comparatively small size are advocated in hill very high and as
regions. As an alter-
native, the rooms which remain occupied for mostt of the time are oriented in
direction away
from the ppévailing wind.
6Siteconditions. Location of site in rural area, suburban area or urban also
area
affect orientation. Sometimes, to achieve the grandeur of the building it has to be oriented in
some particular direction.

7 4. Orientation Criteria for Indian Conditions

Solar heat and humidity arc the two most controlling factors in the design of a building,
particularly of residential type. Depending upon clim1tic conditions India can be divided into
two zones.