Orientation
The orientation of buildings, blocks and streets is the key to a development that is well adapted to the risk of overheating. As such, orientation needs to be considered at the concept design stage for any new building or site.
Orientation can significantly contribute toward striking a balance between the benefits of passive solar gain during colder months and the risk of excessive solar gain during the summer. Site layout should use landform and landscape to benefit from shelter, to minimise heat losses in winter, provide adequate shade in summer, and to catch breezes. By ensuring orientation is properly considered in the early design, adaptation can be maximised with the need for additional adaptation measures, or future retrofitting, possibly reduced.
This solution is also addressed in the Energy module and is also relevant to general design considerations covered in the Design module.