---
title: "Orientation and planning of a building"
subject: "Building Technology"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_6/building_technology:orientation-planning"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/orientation-planning
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Orientation and planning of a building

Building Technology · Chapter 1: Functional Requirements of Buildings

- Asked in: 2081 Chaitra, 4 marks; 2079 Jestha, 3 marks; 2078 Poush, 4 marks; 2077 Chaitra, 4 marks; 2076 Baisakh, 2+4 marks; 2075 Bhadra, 8 marks; 2075 Baisakh, 7+3 marks; 2073 Magh; 2073 Bhadra; 2072 Magh, 3 marks; 2071 Magh, 8 marks; 2070 Bhadra, 4+4 marks (asked 12 times)
- Video: [Orientation of Building and Rooms | Purpose of Building Orientation | Building Orientation Benefits](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TezhByUb1r0) — How to make my house
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/orientation-planning
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/building_technology/chapter-1

## Question

What do you mean by orientation of a building? What factors should be considered for orientation and planning of a building?

## Short answer

Orientation places a building and its rooms to use sun, wind, rain and view for comfort. Key factors are sun path (south-facing long walls in Nepal), prevailing wind, rainfall, topography, climate zone, and surroundings. Planning factors include aspect, prospect, grouping, roominess, privacy, circulation, sanitation, flexibility, economy, and bye-laws.

## Answer

**Orientation** of a building is the placing of the building on the site, and the arrangement of its rooms, so that the sun, wind, rain and view are used to give comfort inside with the least artificial heating, cooling and lighting.

#### Factors for orientation
1. **Sun path and solar radiation**: In Nepal (about 27°N–30°N) the sun is in the southern sky. Long walls and large windows should face south to receive winter sun. East and west walls get low-angle sun, so openings there should be small.
2. **Wind direction**: The prevailing wind (in the Terai, mostly west to east in summer) should reach the main openings for cross ventilation. The long face with the openings should face the wind, with the wind within about 0° to 30° of the normal to the wall, not parallel to it.
3. **Rainfall**: The direction of driving rain decides where sheds, eaves and chhajja are needed.
4. **Topography and view**: Slope, drainage, and a good view or privacy may change the best direction.
5. **Climate zone**: The hot-humid Terai needs shade and ventilation; the cold hills need solar gain and a compact form.
6. **Surroundings**: Nearby trees, buildings and noise sources can shade the building or block the wind.

#### Factors for planning
- **Aspect**: Each room faces the direction suited to its use: kitchen east/north-east (morning sun, away from afternoon heat), bedroom south-east or south, living room south, store and toilet north or west.
- **Prospect**: The view outward from the openings.
- **Grouping**: Rooms of related use are placed together to shorten circulation.
- **Roominess**: Right sizes and proportions for the furniture and activities.
- **Privacy**: Bedrooms and toilets are screened from the road and neighbours.
- **Circulation**: Short, direct passages and stairs with little wasted area.
- **Furniture requirement and sanitation**: Wall space for furniture; light, ventilation, clean water and drainage.
- **Flexibility and economy**: Space can be altered later, and the plan is compact so that the cost is low.
- **Bye-laws**: Setback, ground coverage, floor area ratio and height as per the Nepal Building Code and municipal bye-laws.

```text
        N
   [Store][Toilet]
 W [Kitchen][Dining] E
   [Living][Bedroom]
        S  (large windows)
```

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. In Nepal, which walls should carry the large windows for winter comfort?
   A. South-facing walls
   B. East-facing walls
   C. West-facing walls
   D. North-facing walls
   Answer: A. The sun is in the southern sky, so south windows give winter sun; east and west walls get low-angle sun and need small openings. (Key point: Window direction)

2. How should the building axis be placed relative to the prevailing wind for cross ventilation?
   A. Exactly parallel to the wind
   B. At 90 degrees to the wind only
   C. At 0 to 30 degrees to the wind, not parallel
   D. Direction of wind does not matter
   Answer: C. The answer states the axis is kept at 0 to 30 degrees to the wind, not parallel, so the main openings catch the wind. (Key point: Building axis and wind)

3. Which room placement matches the idea of aspect?
   A. Kitchen on the west to get afternoon sun
   B. Kitchen on the east or north-east to get morning sun and avoid afternoon heat
   C. Store and toilet on the south
   D. Bedroom on the north-west
   Answer: B. Aspect means each room faces the direction suited to its use; the kitchen goes east/north-east, and stores and toilets north or west. (Key point: Aspect)

4. Which planning factor is about hiding bedrooms and toilets from the road and neighbours?
   A. Prospect
   B. Grouping
   C. Roominess
   D. Privacy
   Answer: D. Privacy keeps bedrooms and toilets hidden; prospect is the outward view, grouping places similar rooms together. (Key point: Planning factors)

## Related in Building Technology

- [Heat, ventilation, light, sound, orientation, moisture](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Abuilding-considerations) — Building Technology, chapter 1
- [Factors for selecting roof covering](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aroof-covering-factors) — Building Technology, chapter 4, asked 2×
- [Configuration factors for seismic safety](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aconfig-factors-seismic) — Building Technology, chapter 11, asked 2×
- [Repair versus retrofit; configuration factors](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aretrofit-vs-repair-config) — Building Technology, chapter 11
- [Factors in construction stage of trench excavation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Atrench-excavation-factors) — Building Technology, chapter 2
- [Factors for limiting fire spread](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Afire-spread-factors) — Building Technology, chapter 12

## Related in other subjects

- [Job layout and site planning factors](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Ajob-layout-site-planning-factors) — Construction Management, chapter 6, asked 2×
- [Factors for electric heating in building design](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Futilization_of_electrical_energy%3Aelectric-heating-building-design-factors) — Utilization of Electrical Energy, chapter 5
- [Regulatory requirements and building codes for planning](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aregulatory-building-codes-urban) — Construction Management, chapter 11, asked 2×
- [Planning electrical installation of industrial building](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Findustrial_power_distribution_and_illumination%3Aplanning-industrial-installation) — Industrial Power Distribution and Illumination, chapter 5