The Southwest exposure of a house is a orientation A highly sought-after property that combines visual and thermal comfort with energy savings. It means that the vast majority of windows benefit from sunlight for a large part of the day. What are its strengths? Its weaknesses? How can you design a plan optimized for this land orientation? Here are our builder's tips for building a comfortable home in all seasons.
Performance House 04 90m²
Why is the Southwest exhibition so sought after?
Find southwest-facing land is a godsend when you want to do build your house in New Aquitaine or Midi-PyreneesWell adapted to our climate, this balanced exposure promises a house bathed in sunshine all day long.
To go further read the article “ South-West: What is the best house orientation? »
Southwest orientation for a renovated house
From mid-morning until early evening, the southwest exposure allows the sun to enter the house at all hours. A beneficial brightness that promotes a healthy housing, ideal for the moral and physical well-being of its occupants.
Beautiful natural light in the evening
Protected by shade, the living room or the adjoining terrace are bathed in sunlight in the afternoon and evening. This soft light provides an ideal atmosphere for relaxing moments and family meals.
Go further by reading “ Optimizing the brightness of your new home: construction tips ».
A milder indoor temperature in the morning
Unlike eastern exposures, which heat up in the morning, the house remains protected from the rising sun's rays. The house heats up more slowly throughout the day to ensure optimal comfort.
Unparalleled winter comfort
The South-West orientation is the ally of bioclimatic houses and well-insulated buildings built today. These are designed to minimize the need for heating by prioritizing free solar energy.South orientation which allows you to enjoy the sun at any time, thus facilitating the design. The westward tilt further increases the arrival of free calories since the setting sun, low on the horizon, penetrates deep into the home.
What are the disadvantages of a Southwest exposure?
Although they are few in number and can be corrected very easily, a southwest-facing house has a few weak points: summer overheating and exposure to bad weather.
In summer, houses should be protected from overheating.
In summer, you will obviously need to protect your windows from the sun's rays, without altering the brightness. This is where the trick of a good builder will be felt. Shutters, sun breezes well placed, pergolas, vegetation…, this one will install the sun protection elegant and essential that will protect the house from summer overheating.
To better understand the concept of bioclimatism, read “ Building a bioclimatic house in Gironde: 11 tips for a cool house in summer ».
Southwest orientation: protect yourself from bad weather
Gironde, Pays Basque, Occitania…, The prevailing winds generally come from the West on the Atlantic facade or in windy regions. The facade and terrace are therefore more subject to heavy rain and strong winds, which requires perfect waterproofing and carefully chosen joinery. While the Southwest exposure is a little less affected, it nevertheless requires the implementation of protections such as dense hedges, windbreak trees or openwork fences to mitigate the effect of the wind.
Southwest exposure: what are the layout principles?
A well-designed plan should always take orientation into account to strategically place pieces.
Living rooms in the Southwest
To make the most of the sun's benefits, the living room, dining room, and kitchen obviously benefit first from this beautiful exposure. The sun thus harmonizes with the activity of the house.
Rooms facing East or Northeast
What's better than a little ray of sunshine to wake you up? Place the rooms on the East facade allows you to have a little light in the morning but above all to protect yourself from the heat at the end of the day. Ideal for sleeping cool in the summer!
Technical parts in the North
Rooms that are only used for a short time don't need to be comfortable all day long. Bathrooms, toilets, garages, pantry rooms, laundry rooms, etc. can be placed in the north, where they will serve as a buffer space. This means that these rooms, which are a little less heated, will act as natural thermal insulation.
What type of plan for a Southwest house?
U-shaped, L-shaped, rectangular? Here are some plan ideas that work quite well and promote bioclimatic house design perfectly adapted to the RE2020.
An L-shaped plan between shadow and light
An L-shaped layout is ideal for a southwest-facing plot because it creates a small, sheltered area, often in the form of a terrace. This can protect against the prevailing westerly winds and provide a shady spot during the hottest hours. This type of layout also creates a good separation between living and sleeping areas while providing a beautiful opening onto the garden.
An intimate and protected U-shaped plan
The U-shaped plan is another excellent option for a southwest-facing house. It allows you to create a patio or a indoor garden, the true heart of the house, open to the living areas. This configuration offers enhanced privacy, ideal if the house is built in a semi-urban environment or with vis-à-vis. In terms of light, the U-shaped plan maximizes solar gain on several facades, while facilitating natural ventilation. Well designed, it offers a pleasant living environment, bathed in light at the end of the day, while preserving thermal comfort.
The rectangular plan oriented South-West
A great classic of construction, the rectangular plan also has its advantages on well-exposed land. Its main facade facing the South West captures maximum light. Suitable for large, continuous openings overlooking the terrace and garden, it must nevertheless be able to play with sunshades to provide beneficial shade in the summer. Economical to build, this type of plan is also easy to adapt to different architectural styles, from the most traditional to the most contemporary.
The southwest exposure thus offers an ideal setting for building a very comfortable house. But the perfect plan also and above all depends on your lifestyle and your architectural desires (single-story, story, contemporary house, etc.). Building the house of your dreams is the result of a partnership with an experienced builder who will know how to adapt the plan to your needs while highlighting the orientation and the advantages of your land.
