Air directions and their importance  In home design in Israel

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Directions are one of the basic and first elements that a good architect will take into account when approaching the design work . As is well known, Israel is a desert and hot country, and direct solar radiation causes  Homes overheat, which leads to inconvenience for tenants, weathering of materials and large electricity costs in an attempt due to operating air conditioners. The location of the building on the site and the location of the types of spaces according to air and light directions, will ultimately define the atmosphere and feeling in the building ,  Also, design the house according to the directions of the air  Will result in significant savings in home power consumption.  

Each air direction has advantages and disadvantages and each person can adjust a certain direction,  but  There are basic parameters that define each air direction and set it apart. Each place will have a different direction -  In Israel, where the climate is warm in most months of the year, it will be a relatively cool direction, while in countries where the weather is cold and wintery most of the year, the aim will be to take advantage of the warmer directions. So what characterizes each direction?

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north

North is a relatively cool direction , characterized by indirect sun but the light in this direction will be pleasant, neither dazzling nor direct.  

There is a claim among the Israeli public that this is a cool direction and therefore not suitable for a home, but because the sun in Israel is particularly strong  And most days we need artificial cooling, precisely this direction can be very suitable for the Israeli customer both in terms of pleasant light and in economic terms, using this direction will reduce power consumption.

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South

Southerly direction is characterized by direct sunshine most of the day,  Therefore spaces that face this direction will suffer from excessive heat and unpleasant direct light. From our experience we have learned that the Israeli public thinks that this is the optimal direction for the house because that way the house will enjoy the sun, however as we have already explained the sun in this direction is particularly strong and not suitable for direct exposure.  In apartments or houses facing this direction, massive cooling will be required, which increases the consumption of electricity and the use of shading elements such as a pergola, shutters and various shades. The south direction is suitable for a façade with small openings such as standard bedrooms and toilets.  

East

This direction receives hot sun and direct light in the morning to noon from the direction of the sunrise. The direct light stops towards late afternoon, and in the evening it will be a bit dark. This side is problematic because the direct sun damages and abrades elements in the house and therefore it is not recommended to place elements and cladding of wood in the front facing it, such as doors, windows or any element that is worn by strong light. If the living room and / or kitchen face east, it is recommended to design a quality shading system (shutter and / or curtain) in order to cool the space well and thus save energy consumption.

West

Sunset direction.  If you are romantics who like side sunsets this will suit you considering the location of the bedroom. Many Israelis think this side is great because of the breeze, but you should know that this direction is also the hottest in the afternoon -  The sun is blazing and there is direct and unpleasant light during these hours.  In this direction, too, we will refer to the external finishing materials and make sure to use materials that are resistant to direct sunlight. A westerly direction does bring a good breeze - it is worthwhile to place openings in the east and west of the house in order to create a good air flow to the house.

The air direction should also be taken into account in the planning aspect of the garden, for example: the north direction is an excellent direction for planning a balcony or garden because the building will naturally shade them and in most cases we will not need another artificial roof. On the other hand, when planning a balcony or garden to the east, it is advisable to plan a roof in order to allow a pleasant stay in them even in the morning. The west side receives direct and warm sun precisely in the evening, hours that are usually built in the garden or on the balcony, so it is important that a suitable shade is installed that will protect from the direct sun and allow a pleasant stay.

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As is well known each plant or tree responds differently to direct light or shade. There are different types of plants that love heat like cacti, various ornamentals and citrus trees of all kinds, while plants like sensory, cyclamen will be at their best in a shady area. Trees that grow to great heights can be used for a natural shading system for the home. Aside from the impressive scenic aspect they produce, they are also used  A buffer between the building and the area is flooded with direct light and prevents its heating.

In conclusion,  The direction of the air has a decisive effect on the feeling in the structure, on saving energy consumption and on preventing the erosion of the finishing materials. The customer's desire and approach to heat and cold should be taken into account and accordingly the position of the house should be planned taking into account natural and artificial shading sources.

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The article was written by Basalt Architects, which gives lectures at Bezalel and the Israeli Construction Center.

(This article is a recommendation only and does not replace the full advice of all relevant professionals)