Plan your home around the sun, not against it

Introduction

If you’re building or renovating a home in Melbourne, there’s one decision that shapes everything else, and it’s not about tiles or tapware. It’s about how your block sits in relation to the sun.

Orientation is the unsung hero of good design. Get it right, and your home will feel naturally comfortable all year. Get it wrong, and you’ll battle heat in summer, gloom in winter, and rising energy bills.

Over the years, we’ve seen countless designs where small orientation tweaks transformed how a home feels. So, let’s explore what makes the best block orientation for passive solar design, and how you can make the most of any site, even if it’s not perfect.

Why Orientation Matters

The sun’s path is the most reliable design tool you have. Here in Melbourne, the sun arcs across the northern sky, bringing steady light and warmth. That’s why north-facing living spaces are so valuable — they capture natural light in winter, reduce the need for artificial heating, and create bright, uplifting rooms.

A well-oriented home:

• Feels warmer in winter and cooler in summer
• Reduces reliance on air-conditioning or heating
• Maximizes natural light
• Saves money over time through lower running costs

Orientation isn’t about luxury; it’s about livability. The homes that feel “just right” often owe that comfort to the way they’ve been placed on the block.

The Four Main Block Orientations

Every block presents its own opportunities. Whether your street faces north, south, east, or west, smart planning can help you make the most of it.

1. North to the Rear (South-Facing Block)

If you’ve got a backyard facing north, congratulations. You’ve landed the easiest orientation for passive solar design. This setup naturally supports energy-efficient living.

How to design for it:

• Put your main living areas, i.e., kitchen, dining, and family spaces, at the rear where they can soak up northern sun.
• Add eaves or pergolas to block summer rays but allow gentle winter warmth.
• Use thermal mass, like a concrete slab or internal brick walls, to store heat and release it slowly after sunset.
• Keep bedrooms and service areas (bathrooms, laundry) on the south or east for cooler, more stable temperatures.

It’s the classic “light-filled living at the back” setup you’ll see in many sustainable homes across Melbourne.

2. North to the Front

This one can be tricky because your street frontage is also your solar access. Privacy and sunlight often compete, but good design can solve both.

How to design for it:

• Consider placing living areas at the front, using screening, courtyards, or garden walls for privacy.
• Create a north-facing courtyard to draw light into central areas.
• Use deciduous trees or vertical screens to provide shade in summer and let in winter sun.
• Keep bedrooms, bathrooms, and storage to the rear, where direct sunlight is less important.

We’ve worked on several north to the front homes where the central courtyard solution completely changed how the space felt. Done right, it can be one of the most characterful orientations.

3. East to the Front

This is one of our favorite orientations. An east-facing frontage means soft morning light at the front and a north-facing side boundary, perfect for side-yard living.

How to design for it:

• Orient your main living zones along the northern side of the property.
• Place bedrooms or your entry at the front to enjoy morning light.
• Shield the western side from harsh afternoon sun with garages, bathrooms, or landscaping.
• Plan your roof so it opens up to the north or can host solar panels.

This orientation suits narrow urban blocks beautifully, the ones you’ll often find across Melbourne’s inner suburbs.

4. West to the Front

A west-facing block can be challenging because it gets the harshest summer sun. Without protection, it can overheat quickly, especially across the façade.

How to design for it:

• Minimize west-facing windows or use deep verandas and dense planting to create shade.
• Shift living spaces toward the northern aspect.
• Position bedrooms or breakfast spaces at the rear (east) for soft morning sun.
• Use exterior shading like louvers, vertical fins, or climbing greenery.

While it needs more thought, a west-facing block can still perform well when you prioritise shade and ventilation.

What If Your Block Isn’t Ideal?

Most sites aren’t perfect, especially in built-up suburbs where orientation is locked in. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck. There are creative ways to bring in sunlight and improve comfort.

Try these design moves:

• Add courtyards or light wells to pull daylight deeper into the home.
• Use clerestory windows to capture high northern light.
• Choose lighter finishes and reflective surfaces to brighten shaded areas.
• Be flexible with your floor plan. Swap spaces so rooms that need light get it.

Even small interventions can make a big difference. It’s about working with the site, not forcing it to behave like another.

Don’t Forget the Landscape

Orientation isn’t just about the house; your garden plays a part too.

• Deciduous trees on the north and west let winter light in but block summer heat.
• Evergreens on the south or southwest can act as windbreaks.
• Light-coloured paving helps reduce glare and heat buildup.

Landscaping designed around the sun strengthens the performance of the home and makes outdoor spaces more usable.

Why it Matters

After 12 years designing and building sustainable homes across Melbourne, we’ve learned this: the most meaningful homes aren’t necessarily the biggest or flashiest. They’re the ones that were well considered during the design phase and feel just right.

That feeling usually comes from good fundamentals, and orientation is one of them. Get that right early, and everything else, i.e., insulation, glazing, comfort, works better.

A well-oriented home doesn’t just save energy. It supports your wellbeing, connects you with natural light, and adds long-term value.

Key Takeaways

• Aim for north-facing living where possible.
• Design shading carefully. It matters as much as glazing.
• Think beyond the house. Integrate landscaping and airflow.
• Even tricky blocks can perform beautifully with smart design.

Final Thought

Before you fall for a floor plan, check how your block meets the sun. Orientation is the invisible hand behind every home that just feels good. When you build with the sun in mind, you create a space that works with nature, not against it: a home that’s efficient, comfortable, and meaningful for years to come.