What’s the best orientation for houses?

Many decisions go into designing your new home, one of the most important elements to think about is the orientation of your new house.

Designing your new home with good orientation, combined with things like ceiling fans, solar power and other energy-saving features, can set you up to enjoy a sustainable, comfortable home now and in the future.

So, what is House Orientation?

Simply put, it’s how your home is positioned on your block in relation to the sun’s path in different seasons.  This can influence the positioning of living and sleeping areas within the house, either to utilise the benefits of the sun and wind or to shield from their effects. The goal is to harness natural light and elements to create comfort indoors, this is known as ‘passive design’.  At DRHomes we consider the orientation when planning a new home build.  Delivering a beautiful, functional home, with reduced heating and cooling costs and so you can live comfortably from the moment you move in.

What is Passive Design?

‘Passive design’ is design that works with the local climate to maintain a comfortable temperature in the home. Good passive design should reduce or eliminate the need for additional heating or cooling depending on your location and often relies on an active occupant to work properly. A passively designed home can deliver a lifetime of thermal comfort and low energy bills.

With passive design, building features such as orientation, thermal mass, insulation together to take advantage of natural sources of heating and cooling, such as sun and breezes, and to minimise unwanted heat gain and loss. It is best to use passive design principles when designing or building a new home, but many features of passive design can be added through renovations or simple home improvements.

What is considered the best orientation for houses in South East Queensland? 

Facing your home north is generally regarded as the optimal orientation in the South East. This orientation allows you to take advantage of natural light and heat during the winter months, while minimising exposure to the harsh summer sun.

Additionally, considering the sun's path over your house can help maximise energy efficiency and comfort throughout the year.

A north-facing home means that the main indoor and outdoor living areas are placed on the northern side of the home.  These areas are typically used most throughout the day, allowing them to benefit from the natural light and warmth, keeping the bedrooms cooler, allowing for a comfortable nights sleep.

Don’t let alternative facings put you off. 

With the right floorplan, an east, west or south facing home can also provide passive cooling and heating, keeping your home comfortable year-round.  

Talk to us about the best orientation for your new build.