Design the day, not the visit.
§1 · Premise
One place is six different places between first light and midnight.
Each hour gets its own brief, and the light to carry it. The sun is the one input nobody can change, so it is plotted first.
06:00 First light
- Sun altitude
- +0.0°
- Bearing
- 90° E
- Shadow per metre
- unbounded
- Daylight
- sunrise
Nothing should ask anything of anyone yet.
08:00 The first door
- Sun altitude
- +20.7°
- Bearing
- 112° ESE
- Shadow per metre
- 2.65 m
- Daylight
- yes
The first threshold of the day sets the tone for the rest of it.
12:00 The busiest hour
- Sun altitude
- +45.0°
- Bearing
- 180° S
- Shadow per metre
- 1.00 m
- Daylight
- yes
Give people somewhere to be alone.
17:00 Golden hour
- Sun altitude
- +10.5°
- Bearing
- 259° W
- Shadow per metre
- 5.37 m
- Daylight
- yes
Slow everything down. This is the hour people remember.
20:00 The table
- Sun altitude
- -20.7°
- Bearing
- below horizon
- Shadow per metre
- none
- Daylight
- no
Low light, warm surfaces, faces.
23:00 The last room
- Sun altitude
- -43.1°
- Bearing
- below horizon
- Shadow per metre
- none
- Daylight
- no
Quiet, dark and safe.
Table 06-C
| Time | Sun | Bearing | Shadow per m | Brief |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06:00 | +0.0° | 90° E | unbounded | First light. Nothing should ask anything of anyone yet. |
| 08:00 | +20.7° | 112° ESE | 2.65 m | The first door. The first threshold of the day sets the tone for the rest of it. |
| 12:00 | +45.0° | 180° S | 1.00 m | The busiest hour. Give people somewhere to be alone. |
| 17:00 | +10.5° | 259° W | 5.37 m | Golden hour. Slow everything down. This is the hour people remember. |
| 20:00 | -20.7° | below horizon | none | The table. Low light, warm surfaces, faces. |
| 23:00 | -43.1° | below horizon | none | The last room. Quiet, dark and safe. |
Computed for the equinox at latitude 45° N, in local solar time. Clock time differs by longitude and daylight saving.
Cross-reference
1For the order in which each hour’s room is built, reference Vol. 03: Light first.