84 G. H. KNIBBS. 



Fig. 8 shews the position of the solar shadows when the sun 

 lies N.E. or N.W. for the different months of the year ; the 

 shadow reaches the point a, b...g at the dates specified in table. 

 The positions of the shadows on buildings, with streets of various 

 widths, is also shewn. 



If a street have buildings immediately abutting on it, equal in 

 height to its width, the maximum angle of sky transversely to 

 the street is 53° 8', and the minimum 45°. 1 A skyline higher 

 than 45° is clearly too high, hence as a maximum limit, the fagade 

 of any building abutting on the street should not be of greater height 

 than the width of the street. The fagades will be better seen 

 with a less angle, a two-thirds limit would, therefore, be prefer- 

 able, i.e., the height to be not more than two-thirds of the street 

 width. Buildings standing back from the street frontage could 

 be correspondingly increased in height. This element will be 

 further considered in dealing with the aesthetic elements of city 

 design. 



14. Theory of aspect. — The most favorable form for picturesque 

 effect in a site would be a gently undulating surface, surrounded 

 by commanding hills, constituting a sort of semi-amphitheatre. 2 

 The desirable aspect in relation to the cardinal points will depend 

 very much on local peculiarities, such as the climate, the prevailing 

 direction and character of the winds, and similar meteorological 

 factors. Consequently it is hardly possible to generalise in 

 respect thereof. 



So far as mere sunlight is concerned, eastern slopes are cooler 

 than western, and northern than southern ; consequently north- 

 western slopes are to be preferred where heat is desired, and 

 south-eastern when the opposite is the case. These effects may, 

 however, be greatly modified by other factors. 



1 Max. = Observer in middle of street. Angle = 2 tan -1 i, i.e., 53° 8'. 

 Min. = Observer at side of street. Angle = tan -1 1, i.e., 45°. 



2 See report by Messrs. Mansfield, Vernon, Barlow, and the writer, 

 p. 28 of the report of the Commissioner on Sites for the seat of the 

 Government of the Commonwealth. 



