As you know, one of the important elements of architecture is natural light, which creates the character of a building, emphasizes its interiors and, most importantly, influences the well-being of the residents and users of a building. Many investors, following the fashion, are interested in the Scandinavian Hygge atmosphere, dreaming of a house or apartment in an ecological and sustainable style. How can architects respond to such needs? How to optically enlarge the space? What technical knowledge can be useful to facilitate the daily work on the project? You will find the answers in the following article.
Natural light contributes to well-being
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visual comfort
Visual comfort is one of the basic elements that guarantee the well-being of building users. It is influenced, among other things, by the amount of natural light in the building, access to pleasant views of the outdoors and the quality of the surrounding space. To significantly increase the comfort of a building, you can consider installing roof windows in sets, that is, several windows side by side placed at eye level. Their advantages include a large amount of daylight, a panoramic view, and almost infinite arrangement possibilities.
large windows optically enlarge space
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how to combine windows?
When combining windows into sets, remember a few basic rules:
- horizontally combine windows of the same height, that is, windows of the same size,
- vertically, match windows of the same width, but if you are thinking of variety, the windows can be of different lengths.
The most common set is two windows installed side by side or in a vertical set. Asymmetrical installation is also possible. It is important to also consider the thickness of the rafters and the width of the flashing gutters between the windows at the roof structure design stage. The spacing of the rafters should be selected so that the clear dimension between them is 4 to 6 centimeters greater than the width of the window - this allows the placement of thermal insulation.
It is worth using windows with different opening methods
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multiplicity of solutions and natural light
An interesting procedure is to combine into sets of windows of different sizes and types, for example, windows with different opening methods - electric with a mechanism integrated into the structure and manual. These windows do not visually differ from each other, and allow to optimize the cost of the whole set. This type of solution was used, for example, in the Green Solution House Hotel on the island of Bornholm.
windows can be combined into lap sets
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Another suggestion could be the popular solution of combining roof windows with vertical windows in knee sets, so as to make maximum use of the knee wall to open up to the surrounding space - both the view below and the distant horizon. It is worth remembering that elbow windows are available in different heights and widths, and in three opening methods: tilt, casement and fixed. On the other hand, the combination of the elbow window and the slope window is prepared to drain water into gutters on both sides of the set.
An interesting proposition is the GEL double-hung balcony window and the GDL Cabrio® roof balcony.
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An interesting proposition is the GEL double-hung balcony window. It is a system of window and door elements that together create an exit to the balcony, thus maximizing the use of sunlight.
And how to create additional space in the attic? An innovative way can be the GDL Cabrio® roof balcony, a double-hung window for attic apartments. When opened, the system forms a balcony, the upper part of which is a tilting sash, and the lower part is a vertically extending balcony with railings on the sides.
More design solutions can be found on the VELUX ARCHITIPS website.
