How valuable is north-facing?

In the southern hemisphere we talk about optimal orientation for property as being north-facing. Watching British renovation television programs always reminds me of our universal need for natural light when they place an emphasis on capturing their south-facing sun.

The link between limited sunlight and depression is very real for some, and at the very least, we like to enjoy the benefit of sunshine all year round in our homes. A well orientated dwelling and design represents more than just a happy mood. It also addresses heating/cooling challenges in our temperate months, and counteracts mildew, timber rot, dampness and decay on timber windows.

Buyers often describe their criteria list to us and some are better at articulating the items than others. The most common theme though, above space, size and style is light. 

It is surprising just how many people crave natural light.

Natural light is not just an aesthetic feature, but an important human need, and for some the lack of it can create genuine health issues. When commencing a search we place a high value on the orientation of a property, the available options to enhance natural light, and the design-change options for any dark interiors.

The “day arc” of the sun refers to the daily and seasonal arc that the sun follows across the sky. As the Earth rotates the sun every year and our daytime length varies, the height of the sun in our sky also varies. Our summer and winter solstice extremes mark the height range of our northern sun as shown below.

A north-facing window will capture sunlight at all times of the day, and all times of the year. An east-facing window will capture morning sun, and a west-facing window will capture the afternoon sun. Consideration always has to be made to the zones and rooms of a dwelling because the orientation can deem a room perfect for use, or compromised completely.  A ‘movie room’, a nursery, a space that appreciates limited sunlight (such as a collector’s gallery) will suit a south facing orientation, and likewise a breakfast bar or perfect morning tea spot will be enhanced with an east-facing window. Living areas, kitchens and dining spaces are often designed with northern light in mind.

I remember my first apartment (above) fondly. This little haven in Mentone was always cheerful for me and at the time, in my twenties I found it hard to describe what it was that was so special about my little abode. It wasn’t until it was described as a gloriously north facing living room and bedroom unit that I realised it was all about the light.

Yesterday’s exciting acquisition in central Coburg reminded me of the importance of orientation. This stunning double-fronted period Victorian may have a dated 1990’s interior with it’s heritage colours, slate flooring, timber kitchen and brass fixtures, but what it offers in terms of natural light is difficult to put a value on. The corner block stunner sits on a generous 589sqm and the kitchen and living areas look out onto a leafy and tranquil yard with sun streaming in at all times of the day.

A few months ago we enjoyed working with a dear client who was indeed very firm about her personal preference for a north-facing outlook for her apartment. After a challenging few months we were delighted to secure this beautiful off-market in Thornbury (below) for her, matching her wish-list perfectly.

My very own home has proved the perfect challenge in relation to our quest for northern sun. Not only is the property an east-west, skinny Victorian that is nothing short of eye-blinding during summer mornings in the kitchen, it is a middle brick terrace with limited light-wells. This combination has presented sunlight challenges for us, but a recent and clever architectural idea has enabled our main living area to capitalise on northern light with the introduction of a broad clerestory window. Now the light pours in all day long and our option to block out the forcefield of the sun from the East means that we can still enjoy some light.

After eight months of living elsewhere, we are pretty excited to move in and enjoy our beloved home again in her new glory. But making these changes haven’t come without cost and effort.

A south-facing home isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Options exist to capture light; they sometimes just need a creative and qualified person to come up with the right solution.

The cost of making these changes though needs to be factored in to the purchase decision. North-facing living areas are popular for many reasons, not withstanding the cost-savings when weighing up a significant floorplan re-alignment and renovation.

As we say to our clients, “north-facing is a valuable nice-to-have. We won’t reject other orientations, but north-facing certainly gets extra points.