156 HOUSE PLANNING

Planning the orientation of a prospective house in relation to
the sun and wind precedes the making of floor plans. The south-
ern exposure is usually the most desirable one because in winter it
has sunshine, and in summer in much of the country it has the
prevailing breeze. However, the southern exposure usually re-
quires shade on summer afternoons; therefore tall deciduous shade
trees on the south, southwest, and west are highly desirable. Shade
for the southern exposure can also be provided by modern ex-
tended roofs or louvered canopies, which are so designed that they
keep out the sunshine in summer but admit it in winter. See page
117. Since modern living rooms should face the sun and also face
the garden at the rear of the house, lots on the south side of the
street are particularly satisfactory.

Eastern exposures are desirable in spring, fall, and winter but
sometimes require shade in summer. North rooms are the least
pleasant, except in hot climates, because they get no sunshine.
Northwest and west rooms are likely to be hot on summer after-
noons. Compromises and flexibility in the use of rooms at different
seasons is therefore usually necessary.

In a one-story house the living room, which should have the
best exposure, is usually located on the south or east, the outdoor
living room, too, on the south or east, the dining room on the
north or northeast, the kitchen on the north or northeast, the utility
room on the north, the study on the northwest, the bedrooms on
the south, east, or west, and the motor room on the north. Long
narrow houses, only one room through, get more sunshine, air* and
garden exposure than more compact houses. Difficult problems
in orientation are often solved by having an irregular house plan.
Sometimes turning a house only 20 degrees makes the difference
between success and failure in its orientation*

In addition to the sun and breeze other factors affect room ex-
posures. Where winter winds are bitter few openings should ap-
pear on the north. Where the view i$ outstanding, naturally the
living room faces in thaf direction.

Privacy and interest are gained by locating a house out of line
with the neighboring houses. The type and sbe of a lawn and
garden areas desired and the presence of large trees also influence
the placing of the house. Legal restrictions, too, sometimes affect
the location of a house.