The low sun of December

Every place has a number that shapes its houses. In Vesper Bay that number is 31. At noon on the shortest day, the sun stands 31 degrees above the horizon.

In June the number is 78. The sun is almost overhead, and a small roof can shade a whole wall. The hard month is December, when the sun is low and every wall casts a long shadow.

Saltcourt House is built around a court. The clients wanted sun in that court all winter. So we asked how long a shadow the south wing would throw at noon in December.

The eave of that wing is 9 feet high. At 31 degrees, a 9-foot eave throws a shadow 15 feet long. A court 15 feet wide would be in shade all day.

We made it 30 feet wide. The shadow stops halfway, and the north rooms get sun from wall to wall. You can check our sum on the project page. Drag the sun to December and watch.

Calla Verhoeven, Partner