2. Exterior features

Depending on the location and municipality concerned, town planning regulations impose minimum distances between buildings, as well as heights that must not be exceeded. While these regulations are sometimes experienced as constraints on construction, it should not be forgotten that they also protect the "right to the sun" of existing buildings.

Environmental masks

Elements, near or far, that mask part of the sky, reduce the amount of natural light that can penetrate the premises. Any obstacle, regardless of its color or brightness, has a lower average luminance than the portion of sky it obstructs, except when it is in direct sunlight (see figure 4 ). On an annual...