Orientation: The Design Decision Most Homeowners Forget

You can have the most beautiful house design, but if you orient it in the wrong direction, it can ruin the living experience.

One of the first things we study before designing a house is something most homeowners never think about: orientation. Basically, saan haharap ang bahay mo. Basically, which way your house faces.

"Okay lang yan, basta maganda yung design"

A lot of people think the direction doesn't matter as long as the design looks good. But here in the Philippines, where we have intense sunlight almost the whole year, malaking factor talaga kung saan nanggagaling yung init. Where the heat comes from is a huge factor.

For example, direct afternoon sun can make certain parts of your house much warmer than the rest.

What we study before designing

During planning, we look at:

• Where the sun rises
• Where it sets
• How the wind moves around the property

Work with nature, not against it

Our goal isn't to block nature completely. We want to work with it:

• We want natural light coming in.
• We want fresh air moving through the house.
• At the same time, we want to avoid unnecessary heat.

Decide it early

Orientation should be settled even before you design your house, kasi once the house is built, mahirap nang baguhin ang orientation niya. Once it's built, you can't easily change which way it faces.

So before you design your dream house, don't just ask "Maganda ba siya?" Also ask: Will this house work well for me?

A good home is not just designed to be seen. It's designed to be lived in.