SUN

keywords: Sun, Public Space, Solar Energy, Sun Orientation

Earlier Design

I have notice that in my designs I always make sure I take the sun into consideration. In a country like the Netherlands it is important to play with the sun light for many purposes. One of those purposes is for example the climate being create by sun when we are designing a public space especially terraces or squares where people like to sit for a drink or just to relax. Of course it is not always possible to make the right balance, many time we as urban designers and architects have restrictions. For the sun subject I would like to take a look at a project a made in my pre master. In this project the assignment was to design a public library with apartments and public services like restaurant and shops in the borough of Amsterdam-Zeeburg (East). The location was Javaplein, this location has the perfect South orientation that give the sun the opportunity to shine on the location from morning till evening. Nevertheless the height of the building influence this freedom.  In fig.1 you can see the location of the Library and how I design the public space with a South-West orientation so the public space can benefit of the sun during the whole day in summer and winter time.


 

fig.1

South-West orientated public space on the Javaplein in Amsterdam









 

fig.2 Public space/square of the Library during a winter afternoon

 



 Future Design

During the course of Prof. T.M. de Jong we learn that we can do much more with the sun in our design proposals than we think. Sun nowadays is not only a question of light or climate. Sun is now being used to provide buildings and in some cases neighbourhoods with energy. In future designs we need and we will take the efficiency of the sun into consideration in our designs. In the design for the Library in Amsterdam I never take the energy question in consideration but I notice in my current designs I am doing this. Pictures below shows how buildings and neighbourhoods are being design using the sun as energy.



fig.3 Sun Island in the New Town of Almere, this project make the neighbourhood sustainable by using sun as energy source.



fig.4 Solar panels use in building facade



In the course Territory from Prof. T.M. de Jong he create an excel program for us future designers to calculate different influences of the sun on the building or surroundings. The picture below (fig.5) shows a shot screen I used to calculate the sun on the library in Amsterdam.



fig.5 Excel program created by T.M. de Jong that can be used to calculate different influences on the public space or building by the sun