Design Goal E
Reduce sky lining
Discussion
Where antennas protrude from rooftops, they can result in “sky lining” which means that they are more visibly prominent against the backdrop of the sky. One way of reducing this effect is to set the antennas back from the edge of the rooftop so that they are less visible from below. It is acknowledged that this can result in the need for antennas to be raised higher on support structures in order for the radio frequency to transmit over the building rooftop. Providing that support structures are appropriately designed having regard to minimizing visual effect, this may be an appropriate design solution.
Where antennas are installed on and protrude from building rooftops or other structures (eg water towers) consideration should be given to color matching. In some cases color matching to the existing building/ structure will be appropriate, but generally, the best visual effect where antennas protrude from a rooftop can be achieved by using a nonreflective grey finish.
When multiple Proponents locate antennas on a rooftop or other built structure, consideration should also be given to achieving a consistent effect in terms of the overall alignment of antennas. A consistent approach to the maximum level of antennas will result in a better overall visual effect, than a range of antenna levels which create a fragmented or disorganized sky line.
Where multiple Proponents are co-siting, establish a consistent overall height alignment and color of antennas.
Design Opportunity
- Set back antennas from the edge of rooftops to reduce the effect of sky lining. However, it is acknowledged that this may create an unnecessary radiation hazard zone in front of the antennas and diminish performance in some circumstances.
- Where multiple antennas are installed on a rooftop, establish a consistent overall height that all future installations align with.
- Where appropriate, consider color matching antennas to the structure/building they protrude from or select a “common” neutral color to reduce the visual effect.
