---
title: "South Facing Outdoors (105)"
created: 2026-07-01
updated: 2026-07-01
type: concept
status: compiled
namespace: pattern-language
pattern_number: 105
pattern_name: "South Facing Outdoors"
source_repository: https://github.com/zenodotus280/apl-md
source_url: https://github.com/zenodotus280/apl-md/blob/master/Patterns/South%20Facing%20Outdoors%20%28105%29.md
license_note: Non-commercial reuse with attribution; see namespace README and source LICENSE.md.
related_patterns:
  - "Site Repair (104)"
  - "Half-Hidden Garden (111)"
  - "Positive Outdoor Space (106)"
  - "Wings of Light (107)"
  - "Indoor Sunlight (128)"
  - "North Face (162)"
  - "Sunny Place (161)"
---

# South Facing Outdoors (105)

> Source pattern from the abridged `apl-md` corpus. Use as a design reference and constraint seed; do not treat as commercial-clean training data.

### Problem
>People use open space if it is sunny, and do not use it if it isn’t, in all but desert climates.

### Solution
>Always place buildings to the north of the outdoor spaces that go with them, and keep the outdoor spaces to the south. Never leave a deep band of shade between the building and the sunny part of the outdoors.

### Related Patterns
... within the general ideas of location which [[Site Repair (104)]] creates, this pattern governs the fundamental placing of the building and the open space around it with respect to sun.

Let [[Half-Hidden Garden (111)]] influence the position of the outdoors too. Make the outdoor spaces positive - [[Positive Outdoor Space (106)]] - and break the building into narrow wings - [[Wings of Light (107)]]. Keep the most important rooms to the south of these wings - [[Indoor Sunlight (128)]] and keep storage, parking, etc, to the north - [[North Face (162)]]. When the building is more developed, you can concentrate on the special sunny areas where the outdoors and building meet, and make definite places there, where people can sit in the sun - [[Sunny Place (161)]] ...

---

> [!cite]- Alexander, Christopher. _A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction_. Oxford University Press, 1977, p. 513.
> #APL/confidence/high
>
> #APL/Building-Patterns/Siting-the-Buildings