Sun Studies


Use the sundial for your appropriate latitude closest to that of the site (Montréal is
45 degrees).  The model must be to scale and show anything that will cast a shadow.
Mount a copy of the sundial on the model (horizontal surface) of the site with north on the
sundial corresponding to north on the model.  This sundial is designed to work for both
north and south latitudes.  In this case, it is printed with north as up for the Northern
Hemisphere.  Mount the peg of the size indicated at the cross marker.  By tilting the
model in the sun, one can make the end of the peg's shadow fall on any intersection of
the sundial.  Only the real sun will work; desk lamps do not have parallel rays, and thus
will give splayed shadows.  Each intersection represents the time of day and the day of
the year corresponding to the two lines that meet at that intersection.  When the shadow
extends to a given intersection, the shadows and sun penetration in the model simulate
the actual condition for that time of day and date. (Lynch, 1971, p. 71)

This reference was taken from Sun, Wind & Light - Architectural Design Strategies,
second edition, by G.Z. Brown and Mark DeKay
 

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             owen.rose@mcgill.ca