Vol. 06 · Twenty-four hours

Design the day, not the visit.

ExperiencePrototype

§1 · Premise

One place is six different places between first light and midnight.

Each hour gets its own brief, and the light to carry it. The sun is the one input nobody can change, so it is plotted first.

Solar altitude over twenty-four hours at latitude 45 degrees north, in local solar time. The equinox curve is drawn solid; the June and December solstices are drawn thin and dashed. Below the horizon line the chart is hatched: no daylight.00:0003:0006:0009:0012:0015:0018:0021:0024:00+60°+30°-30°-60°horizon21 Juneequinox21 December
Fig. 06-A · Solar altitude, 24 hoursLatitude 45° N · equinox · local solar time
Plan of a one-metre post and its shadow at the selected hour, with the bearing of the sun marked on the ring. Shadows longer than six metres are drawn at six.NESWno sunno sun
Fig. 06-B · Shadow of a 1 m post

06:00 First light

Sun altitude
+0.0°
Bearing
90° E
Shadow per metre
unbounded
Daylight
sunrise

Nothing should ask anything of anyone yet.

08:00 The first door

Sun altitude
+20.7°
Bearing
112° ESE
Shadow per metre
2.65 m
Daylight
yes

The first threshold of the day sets the tone for the rest of it.

12:00 The busiest hour

Sun altitude
+45.0°
Bearing
180° S
Shadow per metre
1.00 m
Daylight
yes

Give people somewhere to be alone.

17:00 Golden hour

Sun altitude
+10.5°
Bearing
259° W
Shadow per metre
5.37 m
Daylight
yes

Slow everything down. This is the hour people remember.

20:00 The table

Sun altitude
-20.7°
Bearing
below horizon
Shadow per metre
none
Daylight
no

Low light, warm surfaces, faces.

23:00 The last room

Sun altitude
-43.1°
Bearing
below horizon
Shadow per metre
none
Daylight
no

Quiet, dark and safe.

Table 06-C

TimeSunBearingShadow per mBrief
06:00+0.0°90° EunboundedFirst light. Nothing should ask anything of anyone yet.
08:00+20.7°112° ESE2.65 mThe first door. The first threshold of the day sets the tone for the rest of it.
12:00+45.0°180° S1.00 mThe busiest hour. Give people somewhere to be alone.
17:00+10.5°259° W5.37 mGolden hour. Slow everything down. This is the hour people remember.
20:00-20.7°below horizonnoneThe table. Low light, warm surfaces, faces.
23:00-43.1°below horizonnoneThe last room. Quiet, dark and safe.

Computed for the equinox at latitude 45° N, in local solar time. Clock time differs by longitude and daylight saving.