Does the Honeycomb layout take into account the sun's path?

Malaysia is an equatorial rainforest, hot and humid all year round. Ideally, windows would face N-S, avoiding the morning sun in the East, and certainly the afternoon sun in the West. Yet, if the windows are shaded, heat gain can be minimized. A comparison of two quadruplex houses, one in the N-S orientation, the other in E-W orientation shows only a small difference in temperature the hottest period of the year (details later).



Even so, this simulation does not take into account the potential shade that can be gained from planting fast-growing trees that we have - that can grow 40’ high and almost the same across within 5 years. In fact, one of the main reason for the Honeycomb concept is to have parks, small, yet large enough to grow such trees. There just isn’t enough space on the standard 40’ right of way in our housing estates.

Outside of the tropics, where we want mainly south-facing windows, the Honeycomb layout with linked houses may not be suitable, because some houses will have to face elsewhere. But for detached single family homes in a Honeycomb layout, we can design the house to have windows facing where we want them.