Sunlight at Home: Exploring Preferences and Their Impact on Building Design
Abstract
In dense urban housing, particularly at high latitudes, the provision of direct sunlight creates a critical tradeoff between its value as a residential amenity and the need to ensure occupant comfort and energy-efficient performance. This study investigates indoor sunlight preferences through a national survey in Sweden, providing updated empirical evidence for residential building design. The findings reveal a significant appreciation for direct sunlight, with 90% of residents wanting sun in their homes. However, this desire is conditional, defined by a hierarchy of priorities and a strong seasonal dynamic. When ranked against other qualities, abundant natural light and a pleasant view out were considered more important than direct sunlight. This conditionality is underscored by a concern for summer overheating, which appears more prominent than in similar studies from previous decades. A key contribution of this paper is a practical, function-based guide that translates these nuanced preferences into recommended room orientations. The results call for a design approach that moves beyond maximizing static solar access towards creating flexible, user-controlled environments that align with modern comfort expectations.
Keywords
direct sunlight, urban planning, building design, Sweden, daylight, residential