North Facing homes, what's the big deal?

There's an ever-expanding fever for North facing homes currently being experienced by estate agents and potential homeowners living in Johannesburg. Buyers gush for the opportunity to own a home with this specific directional appeal and with good reason.

So, what's the big deal?

The practical appeal

During the wintertime, north or northeast-facing homes get solar charged with plenty of direct sunlight during the colder months. Even during the winter when the days are shorter, that small amount of morning sunlight provides just the right amount of warmth to your home. 

Considering we live in South Africa where sunshine is in abundance, this means that you can get plenty of sun no matter how cold it gets. This makes a big difference for homes that have back gardens too. The more sun you get, the more vibrant your topiary haven will become.

The cultural appeal 

Various Eastern cultures have spiritual and traditional practices that revolve around the correct placement or directional positioning of your home and objects in it. Such practices like Feng Shui in China and Vastu Shastra in India instil the idea that the aspect and positioning of your home has various implications.

For example, in Feng Shui, a north-facing home signifies one's focus on one's growing career, whereas a South-facing, the opposite direction, means the focus is more on the past and your reputation. 

In Vastu, a north-facing home is dedicated to the God of Wealth, Kuber, and similarly to Feng Shui, these homes signify auspicious signs of growth and prosperity. It is unclear if such beliefs are also rooted in more pragmatic reasons such as access to sunlight, but it's no coincidence that north-facing homes are favoured in the traditional sense.

Why not East, West, or South-facing?

East-facing homes aren't the worst alternative since they still get plenty of sun but only during the morning period. This can make your home rather chilly during the winter months and way too hot during summer.

A South-facing home is a cold and dark place. You will not get any direct sunlight at all and this could lead to issues such as condensation that contributes to dampness. Also, avoid having back gardens in south-facing homes since they will hardly get any sun either, with only a few plants being able to grow. This is especially true if you have a small garden literally living under the shadow of your home!

Perhaps the last choice of aspect that you would want is a west-facing home. This is because the sun sets in the west with a lingering and low light and can make for an extremely intense afternoon during the summer.

That's the secret! Everything you needed to know about the points on a compass and why they affect your home differently.


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