Page 15 - Vertical City

INTRODUCTION 15

in these constructions. Its benefits are more difficult to
realize in proportion to the height of a city’s construc-
tions.

It determines with the revolution of the planet on
its axis and its ecliptic, the direction and the speed of
the wind, the impact of which is more consequent in
proportion to the height of the building.

From time immemorial, shelters were destined to
allow us to enjoy our five senses simultaneously with the
trajectory of the sun through the days and the seasons as
well as to benefit from its provision of energy, warmth
and light.

This evident fact has often been neglected in the
past century as misuse of science and technology have
led to countless constructions -indifferent to the sun-
that surround us 14.

The primacy of the sun, augmented by environmen-
tal fears, is now being slowly, much too slowly, reins-
tated. It is at the heart of the matter. The following
graphics for Belgium enable us to better understand,
and particularly to put things in perspective.

–– the energy contribution (in kWh/m2 per year) at
every point of the hemisphere that surrounds us,

14 Use of reflecting and highly insulating glass is an example. The
air-conditioned construction is designed ignoring the sun at the
expense of glazing with a low daylight factor, thus requiring artificial
lighting in the daytime, but also with a very low color rendering
index. (Philippe SAMYN, “Construire la lumière”, in Bulletin de la
Classe des Arts, Académie royale de Belgique, 2013 (to be published).