Start with the sun, not the plan

Before a single room is drawn we map where the sun rises, where it sets, and what stands in its way. Orientation decides more about daily life in a building than any later choice.

Morning light suits kitchens and places of work. Evening light belongs to rooms for rest. When the plan follows that rhythm, the building needs less artificial light and feels calmer for it.

Controlling, not maximising

More glass rarely means better light. A single well-placed opening, a deep reveal, or a courtyard wall that bounces daylight back into a room will do more than a glazed facade.

At Casa Nera, three small courtyards do the work of a wall of windows, bringing even light to the centre of the house while keeping it private from the street.