We never start with a floor plan. We start with a folding chair, a compass and a full day on the plot, from first light to dusk.

What we measure

Every hour we mark where the sun falls, where shade begins and which views are lit. We note the wind, the noise and the places where we naturally want to sit. By evening the site has told us where the living room wants to be.

Why it matters

A room that gets low winter sun needs far less heating. A terrace shaded at four in the afternoon gets used all summer. These decisions cost nothing on paper and are almost impossible to fix once the walls are up.

What it changed at Casa Lúmen

The first sketch put the bedrooms to the east. The sun study showed the best morning light fell on the kitchen side, so we turned the plan around. The owners now have breakfast in the sun, every day of the year.