Documenting and Visualizing Sunlight in Toronto’s Core

This research documents and visualizes the intricate relationships among sunlight, built form, and public life specifically within Toronto’s core. Utilizing photographs and stop-motion videos, the study captured the dynamic movement of sunlight and observed corresponding differences in human behavior under varying light conditions. Maps and diagrams, generated using Rhino3D/Ladybug software, were employed to visualize the annual sunlight conditions throughout the defined study area. Building upon existing scholarship, this research affirms a strong relationship between sunlight and public life, noting that this relationship shifts with the changing seasons. The study concludes with a series of recommendations focused on the protection, expansion, and intensification of public space exposed to winter sunlight, particularly along pedestrian-oriented shopping streets, and advocates for the strategic use of large deciduous trees to manage sunlight across different seasons. The rapid transformation of downtown Toronto’s built form necessitates swift action to address these issues. While the research and its recommendations are centered on Toronto, they are potentially applicable to other cities that share similar climates, sunlight conditions, and built environments.