Roman Houses & Building technology
This is an account by the Roman architect Vitruvius of where rooms should be built
in Roman villas:
Nunc explicabimus quibus proprietatibus genera aedicifiorum
ad usum et caeli regiones apte debeant spectare. hiberna triclinia et balnearia
ad occidentem hibernum spectent, ideo quod vespertino lumine opus est uti, praeterea
quod etiam sol occidens adversus habens splendorem, calorem remittens efficit
vespertino tempore regionem tepidiorem. cubicula et bybliothecae ad orientem spectare
debent, usus enim matutinum postulat lumen.
(Marcus Vitruvius Pollio: de Architectura, Liber VI
)
'I shall now describe how the different sorts of buildings
are placed as regards their aspects. Winter Dining rooms and baths are to face
the winter west, because the afternoon light is wanted in them; and not less so
because the setting sun casts its rays upon them, and but its heat warms the aspect
towards the evening hours. Bedrooms and libraries should be towards the east,
for their purposes require the morning light.