The Shortest Day
On June 21st, the winter solstice— shortest day and longest night—something quietly beautiful happens. The sun arcs low in the sky, casting long shadows and a different kind of light. It's the perfect day to pause, step outside (and in), and tune into your home and garden in a new way.
June 21st isn’t just a calendar event—it’s a chance to observe how your space responds to the rhythm of the seasons. If you're planning a renovation or new build, the insights from this day can shape your home in powerful, passive ways. Here's how to make the most of it.
Notice the Light
Today, the sun reaches its lowest and weakest point in the sky. Inside your home, where does the light fall? Which rooms are bathed in sunlight, and which are in shadow? Take a moment to walk through your space from morning to evening.
Even just noting where you gravitate to for warmth or brightness can be telling. That sunny corner in the kitchen at 9am? It might be the perfect place for a breakfast nook or window seat. The living room that stays cold all day? Maybe it needs better orientation, insulation, or even a cleverly placed skylight.
Step Into the Garden
Outdoors, the winter sun will highlight which areas receive the most natural light—and which stay in shade. These patterns can guide decisions about planting, outdoor living spaces, and glazing.
Where’s your winter sun trap? Could that north-facing fence line become a winter garden retreat or protected veggie patch? Take note of where the frost lingers, and where the soil stays warm and dry.
Feel the Wind
Winter is also when cold prevailing winds from the West and South often hit hardest. Pause and feel—where is the chill coming from? Are certain parts of your home or garden more exposed than others?
Understanding where the cold winds funnel through can help shape future sheltering strategies, like windbreak plantings, fencing, or buffer zones in your building design. Even smaller changes, like the placement of outdoor furniture or the design of an entryway, can benefit from this awareness.
Why It Matters
Good architecture works with the seasons, not against them. And while it’s easy to romanticise summer breezes and golden light, the winter solstice tells you just as much—if not more—about your site and your home.
Today’s shadows and sunshine can guide the shape of eaves, the placement of windows, the materials you choose, and the way you move through your home all year round.
A Little Winter Ritual
So today, rug up and take a slow wander through your home and garden. Bring a notebook. Take photos. Sit in different rooms at different times. Where does it feel good? Where does it feel gloomy or cold? What small rituals could the architecture of your future home support on a day like this?
After all, the shortest day is also the turning point—each day after brings a little more light. It's the ideal moment to imagine what your home could become.