The solar volume method determines the maximum possible volume that can be built on a certain site (location) and not cause substantial shadowing of the neighbouring land or buildings. With the help of solar volume we can determine volume or check the existing urban tissue. This way of approach is very important in designing solar urban quarters. It can be easier applied in rural or suburban areas with lower urban densities. In densely built urban centres a shift from the basic ground level could be a sensible solution bearing in mind that ground-floor is usually designed for public or commercial spaces (Fig.1).

The peak of the pyramid is the top of the vertical pole. The north angles of the pyramid are determined on the basis of the shadow cast by the pole, when the sun has the minimum

chosen elevation (in the morning and in the afternoon at the winter solstice). Azimuth can be determined from the solar chart for the chosen latitude. The south edge of the pyramid is determined by the parallel projection of the north edge through the base of the pole. In our case the starting points were two: the15 ° elevation on the 21st of December and the legally required duration of solar exposure.