Architectural Design Process | Form, Orientation and Sunlight

Learn how you can use sunlight to locate, orient, shape, and inspire the details for your architectural design. In this video, I walk you through the design process for a project whose form, orientation, and details were all developed by carefully analyzing the solar path on the building site.
In addition, I discuss:
- how to read a solar chart (and where to download one)
- what app I prefer to use for solar planning
- passive heating and cooling
- daylighting concepts
- alternate ways to use the sun
- solar aspect, solar noon, azimuth, and altitude
- how to design for competing site agendas

Resources mentioned:

// GEAR I USE //

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ARCHITECTURE GEAR:

STARTUP TOOLKIT:

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Please watch: "Making a Site Model - The Outpost Project"
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[uppereastsidehoney]

May i just say, i learned more from you than my professors when i was in college. 😂

[csmart]

As an old, retired, mechanical engineer, may I say that this is the most interesting architectural design video on YouTube. I'll look for more on this project.

[rswc]

Your ability to condense and convey this information is remarkable.  Obviously there's a lot of work behind it all.  I've learned more in this video than I did in almost my entire semester covering the same stuff (yikes!).

[chassidywebdesign]

My first thought while watching your videos for the first time was this is amazing. Now that I've binged architect videos... again, this is amazing. Thanks for sharing

[marctaylor]

Invaluable advice to someone designing their own home. You've helped me consider things I hadn't and shown me tools I would never have found by myself. Thank you.

[me]

i"am a civil engineer from Algeria and i enjoy watching your videos, i learn a lot from you, thank you for sharing with us.

[DDLeeroy]

This is the sole video that has made me want to change my career and my prospects to architecture and design here in France, after 15 years in hospitality management in Australia. Love this channel

[mmabathogracemokalapa]

First year architecture student here! Thank you so much for this

[spartanwka]

As an amateur, these videos are so fun and insightful. You explain things so clearly that anyone can appreciate your process. Thank you!

[andreleblanc]

My wife and I have just redesigned our house plans a couple of months ago to include a clerestory so to allow daylight into our living spaces located on the north end of our house. It had us shift our design from a typical west-coast design commonly found on Vancouver island, to a contemporary home with flat roof elements. We look forward to commence work with an architect to bring these ideas to the next level.

[gravisan]

These videos are a master class in writing and media creation in themselves.

[lordlyngiroy]

To be honest, he's far more better on our instructor in terms of explaining architectural designing which makes me watch his videos more nos that I'm already in architecture school.

[nancyspicer]

This is Exactly the information that I was searching for years ago when trying to move forward to my Designing. I think that I have found a good resource “You" while continuing to hone my skill at home. Thanks Nancy

[blerimleskovica]

Probably the best architectural video on YouTube!

[H.T]

I am an architect from Libya .. I love your works .. It reminds me of the real architecture.

[pawanchabukswar]

I must say the presentation of sketching skills are on point, no need of high quality costly prints.Hand Sketching with overlays conveys so much.

[thecreek]

Eric I really appreciate your input direction and your ability to communicate concepts and design. I am not an architect but I am a designer of timber structures. I find that you have a very similar thinking process to my design process. Just wanted to shout out that I think you’re work is brilliant. Thank you for your professionalism and sharing. I look forward to your book.

[GarlandSuseberry]

I was taught from a structural standpoint and this helps me a lot and I’m going to use the info I get from you on future projects

[olajideomolayo]

GOT IT!

I just understood the solar charts and how it affects architecture. After spending five years in architecture school and I just understood solar studies with one video.

Great video ERIC! please continue these type of video

[TheLowLandGardener]

Dude I'm in the mids of consuming all my energy designing meaning I came to a point where I couldn't draw inspiration to create new concept and rather doing cliche stuffs like copying from other previous projects. This video just rejuvenate my mind and fill my inspiration tank. Thanks for people like you man. I'm an architect like you. I just subscribed