eli5 How do you know what direction a building is?

Question

How can they name a building northern, western, southern, or eastern where it can be in any direction depending where you are?

In: Other

Answer 1

I grew up in a town where all streets and surrounding roads ran North, South, East and West. I subconsciously adjust my awareness of the direction I’m facing when I take a right angled turn. However if I come i to a town after travelling winding roads or arriving on an aircraft I have no idea which direction I’m facing. I subconsciously pick a direction and all my directions are usually wrong afterwards.