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Appearance
Because of the present day trend to simplify the exterior
appearance of houses by eliminating unnecessary and
costly decoration, architectural expression in houses
is obtained to a large degree by the relationship of
window areas to solid wall areas. The number and placement
of windows, and even the type of windows, affect the
architectural character of the house.
While windows must first be selected, sized and located to satisfy
interior requirements, minor adjustments in size and/or location
may be necessary to provide an acceptable appearance on the
exterior of the house. Windows should be so used that the
house gives an appearance of continuity, rather than one
of unrelated glass and wall areas.
Privacy
Use of large glass areas usually requires some controls
for privacy, both in the daytime and at night. Obvious
controls include draperies and blinds. Consideration
must be given to the size and the placement of these
hangings so that they do not cancel the benefits
of breeze. The use of louvres or other opaque types
of ventilating units which do not have to be
draped is one solution to this problem of privacy
with ventilation. Placing windows high in the wall
is another effective means of obtaining privacy,
especially in bedrooms.
Heat Loss and Heat Gain
Window areas are a major source of heat loss in winter
and heat gain in summer. This heat loss and heat gain can be reduced:
- through correct placement of the house on the lot in relation to the sun;
- through design of the house as regards the amount of glass area and its
location in the walls; and
- through the use of insulating glass.
Heat is lost through glass and through cracks around the sash
operating windows. This loss must be taken into consideration
in determining the amount of glass to be used and the design of
the heating system. Heat loss may limit the amount of glass in
the house, but if insulating windows are used instead of single
glazed ones, larger glass areas are possible.
The placement of room heating units (radiators, oil heaters, etc.) below
windows eliminates cold draughts since the glass and the air around the windows are warmed.
In controlling heat gain, the location of glass areas is more important than
the amount of glass. The house should be placed on the lot, and if necessary
shaded so that the rays of the sun can be admitted during the winter when solar
heat is desirable, but excluded during the hottest months of summer.
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