Day and night
A locked-off camera, a moving sun, interior lights that come on: the clip that answers what a building does over a day.
In short
A day-to-night animation keeps the camera still and moves time. The sun position comes from the coordinates of the site, the date and the hour, so shadows travel the way they will on the built house. It is the strongest single clip for marketing and for committees, because it shows orientation and light without a word of explanation.
Daylight 06:00 to 21:30
What it shows
Which facade gets morning sun and which gets evening sun; how long a terrace stays lit; how the building reads when the interior lights take over.
Because the camera does not move, viewers compare states instead of following a movement. That is what makes the clip readable in eight seconds.
How the sun is computed
Azimuth and elevation follow from date, time and the coordinates of the site, using the published NOAA method. Nothing is estimated.
Mind the clock: in Central Europe the sun stands south around 13:30 in summer, not at 12:00. Check the position in the model rather than trusting the hour.
Where it belongs
Marketing
One strong clip for a project page or a listing.
Committees
Orientation and shading become obvious without a drawing.
Design review
Two times of day next to each other often settle a facade discussion.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a shading study?
No. A shading study needs neighbouring buildings, terrain and an assessment against local rules. The animation shows light without judging it.
How long is such a clip?
Eight seconds is the readable minimum. Several segments can be joined into a longer film without re-encoding.
Can I pick date and time?
Yes, both — plus the coordinates of the site and the north angle of the plan.
More detail is available in German: Day and night (Deutsch)
Next step
How long do you wait for an image today?
Send us a model from a current project, as IFC or GLB. We show you in a video call what VEDUTUM makes of it.