ARCHITECT’S VIEW
Incorporating glazing into your self build
Ian Armstrong, director of ARCO2 Architecture, shares how to make glazing work best for you and your project
What are the initial factors that need to be considered when thinking about where to place your glazing?
In any build, you have to be careful with window placement due to the risk of overheating. Regulations in relation to purge ventilation (rapid ventilation via opening windows, doors etc) have been updated in the last couple of years and so the amount of glazing, as well as how your opening windows and doors can be used for ventilation, needs to be considered when starting your design. Architects generally design new projects in 3D, meaning we’re able to do sun shading analysis that tells us how the building will be affected by sunlight and heat throughout the year, giving us insight into where glazing can and should be placed.