The use of textured, patterned and decorative glass allows scattered light to come in while distorting the view from both sides. Use glazing to create a broken plan layout Retain privacy while bringing in maximum daylight These products, available from companies such as Ritec International, can be used for both internal and external glass, and can be applied retrospectively. The performance is continuous and doesn’t rely on sunlight or rainfall, and polymer resin treatments can be reapplied in situ as and when required. The need for regular washing is decreased and the glass is protected against dust and grit abrasion, staining and discolouration. Polymeric resins – also known as non-stick or easy-clean treatments – work by minimising the accumulation of dirt on the surface of the glass, making it easier to clean. This solution – which cannot be retrospectively applied to glass – works best on surfaces at an incline of more than 30 degrees (at least ten degrees is always required) and exposed to daylight and rain, otherwise the structure must be watered down manually. You'll need an architect or architectural technologist to specify this glass, or try a specialist company such as Bisca or IQ Glass. Done properly, the effects are comparable to an above-ground window-lit room. Fit glass floors and staircasesĪn expensive option, but impactful, glazed flooring can allow light down into a basement, while glazed staircases will make a dark corridor much brighter. Alternatively, frameless glazing does away with any kind of supporting framework, by attaching glass to glass directly with silicone – the perfect solution for corner windows,' advises architect Jane Burnside.Įven painting existing door frames – and window frames for that matter – in a bright white can have a lightening effect on a room. 'Slim window frames allow in the maximum daylight without unduly obstructing the view. Whether you choose contemporary bi-fold or sliding doors, or more traditional French doors, opening up the back of the house – usually replacing a window – to the garden will not just make the room brighter, it will connect it to the garden year-round, making it feel larger, too.įor maximum daylight penetration, pick doors with slim framing – although bear in mind that these will look very contemporary, so may not suit your room if yours is a period home. Open up to the garden with large glazed doors Note that a compliance certificate will be required by the purchaser’s solicitor when you come to sell the property on. If, however, you use an installer registered with FENSA, then the company can issue a certificate of compliance itself under the self-assessment scheme. On completion, you will receive a certificate of compliance. Whether you are undertaking the work yourself or using a builder, your local authority must be notified and you will have to pay a fee for them to inspect.
Narrow windows on top of house windows#
Here, we present a collection of homes from the AD archives by the likes of Lee Ledbetter and Robert Kahn that use clerestories to take homes to new heights.Where windows and doors are completely replaced in existing dwellings, as opposed to repaired, they must comply with the up-to date building regulations Part L for conservation of fuel and power – so you will have to contact your council's building control department. And when paired with their other lofty cousin, the skylight, clerestories can ensure that a room never feels claustrophobic. As for aesthetics, placing windows higher affords more open wall space at eye level for displaying books, curios, or a gallery-style arrangement of artwork. Even better if the clerestory windows open, as this allows for air to flow and circulate. Whereas lower windows can let in sun in a direct and sometimes harsh way, a row of windows up high lets in a more ambient light.
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Today, the architectural feature is employed in modern homes for exactly the same reason, although extra sunlight isn’t the only benefit. Since then, they’ve been a favorite feature in religious structures for their ability to flood vast spaces with natural light, creating interior environments so open and bright they can feel downright heavenly.
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The use of clerestories-a row of windows well above eye level-stretches all the way back to temples in ancient Egypt.