PERFECTING PICTURE WINDOWS

From design to performance, Amandine Lefevre explains how to capture the perfect view with this modern glazing feature

Above: Part of a self build project by Eco Design Consultants, this bay window projects outward from the house, with a sleek black timber rainscreen cladding – lending a contemporary edge to the architecture

Above right: Kloeber supplied the glazing for this East Sussex home, including this oriel window with an oak-clad seat inside – the perfect setting to relax while taking in the landscapes

For most self builders and renovators, a beautiful view is high on the wish list when it comes to choosing or planning a home. Having that close connection between indoors and out can be one of the most desirable features of modern living – and when it’s done well, it can transform both comfort and style. Picture windows invite the outside world in, creating uplifting, bright spaces that offer ever-changing scenes of the surrounding landscape. Here, I’m speaking to glazing experts and architects about how to get this feature right – from material choices to practical considerations, across both new builds and retrofits.

Designing picture windows

Picture windows are generally large, fixed (non-opening) panels of glazing designed to make the landscape an integral part of the interior, and they naturally work best where there’s a lovely vista to frame. Used thoughtfully, they become more than just a source of light and can make a real architectural statement.

While they’re most often associated with contemporary homes, with careful detailing, attention to proportion and thoughtful frame selection, picture windows can make an attractive addition to almost any building type. Crucially, they should appear intentional and harmonious with the rest of the fenestration, rather than feeling like random openings puncturing the wall. “They have the most impact in a large space – a generous living area or a double-height hallway – where they can really open up the room,” says Matt Higgs, managing director at Kloeber.