The Importance of Windows in a House & It’s Architectural Designing

The importance of windows in a house cannot be neglected while designing a house. In this post, we discuss why do houses have windows? Also, some key facts of windows sizes & location to enhance the architectural beauty of a house.

Mistakes! While Architectural Designing of a Window:

The truth is, designing windows into architecture simply from one side or the other of the wall will result in disappointment. Most of the time, particularly in residential architecture, windows and framing often have no relationship from the interior to the exterior.

Locating windows from inside help in optimizing great room sizes. But at the same time, it will nullify the beauty of your house from the exterior. In such type cases, your house looks disorganized but of uneven placement of windows. Always, locate or design windows that compliment from inside as well as from outside of your house.

Just for a better understanding of the importance of windows, let’s review some case study.

03 Case Studies Regarding the Importance of Windows In a House:

CASE STUDY # 01

Windows and Frames Can Give a Building Order & Symmetry: 
Symmetry is something that our eyes appreciate and notice. The lack of symmetry and order, particularly if things are just off, can be subliminally bothersome to us. In this example, a Georgian Revival home provides rigid, perfect consistency that makes the elevation of the house uniform and balanced. The windows are accurately placed. But this can be a difficult solution for the inside of the house where people actually live every day!

In this house, the windows seem too small. They also provide no distinction of what room is located behind them. In all likelihood, the Dining Room and Living Area on the lower levels while the bedrooms are upstairs. BUT, it could be that bathrooms and coat closets are back there? Does the Master Bedroom have just one window like the smallest bedroom in the house? Symmetry and order are accomplished at the expense of the functional need for more and less lighting in different rooms.

CASE STUDY # 02

Windows and framing Can Communicate “full disclosure” as to what is happening inside:

In this home, the different sizes and shapes reveal private versus public rooms in the house. Prominent and more important rooms are clearly emphasized, and functional closets and bathrooms are ‘covered or minimized’. The framing style of the individual windows is consistent, four portions in each opening, sizes, and proportions complimentary of each other, etc. But, the order of the house is more dictated by what is going on inside than outside. That isn’t wrong, but it does it seem to lack some overall aesthetic continuity and balance?

CASE STUDY # 03

Windows and framing can provide aesthetic unity & functional requirements:

In this house elevation, the designer uses fenestration to accomplish both needs. The entire building has an upper-level clerestory that makes the whole house “under one roof”, it’s one structure. Furthermore, the elevation has a logical symmetry as well.

The lower level has an A-B-A-B-C kind of rhythm. The upper level has an A-B-A-B-B rhythm.

Subtly, the house is designed to show public rooms like the great room, the entry area, and an outdoor porch fully while hiding the more private bedrooms. Perhaps they have big windows too, around the other side. But the front elevation clearly tells us that they are most likely located upstairs to the photo-right. Whether you like the modern style or not, the home seems to satisfy both onlookers and the residents. Nicely done!

Conclusion

Architectural designing of windows in a floor layout plan is as important as estimating spaces for rooms. Learn from the mistakes of other designers and make the perfect piece for your client by considering the importance of windows in a house.