Large-scale glazing is trending not just for its aesthetic appeal. These installations fulfill multiple functions, including some health-related benefits that become apparent upon closer examination.
They lend a modern and open feel to spaces, provide expansive views, and much more.
Anyone embarking on a new construction or renovation project should explore the possibilities and advantages of large-scale glazing, which can significantly impact various aspects of life, such as satisfaction and health.
Why Do Older Buildings Often Have Small Windows?
The question arises as to why large windows only became common starting in the early 1980s. Previously, windows were often single-glazed, and the thermal insulation was too poor for large windows to be practical.
Innovative glass technologies, like multiple glazing and the ability to produce large, high-quality windows using the float glass process (first applied in the late 1950s), kicked off the trend of large windows.
These windows also gained popularity through television shows. A similar phenomenon occurred in the early 1990s after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Many people in East Germany, having watched West German TV, assumed that a clothes dryer was standard in a West German household.
Studies have shown that clothes dryers are more prevalent in East Germany than in the West, demonstrating television’s significant influence on setting trends.
Returning to older buildings and why they typically have smaller windows, it boils down to the poor insulation of the time. Larger windows meant greater heat loss, resulting in higher costs, reduced comfort, and increased illness rates.
What Are the Advantages of Large Windows?
Today, the technical standards for windows, including large ones, are so advanced that they offer excellent thermal insulation and meet the highest building standards as part of the masonry.
Therefore, thermal insulation through glazing is no longer a barrier. Panoramic windows can be utilized nearly without restriction, with their advantages being fully realized.
One of the main benefits is the large openings that flood living spaces with natural light and provide unobstructed views outside. Plenty of natural light means an abundance of vitamin D, which is essential for our bones, immune system, and overall health.
It is well known that vitamin D supplements are often recommended during the cold winter months. Large windows from Oknoplast can partially remedy this.
Natural light also positively affects our mood and general well-being, helping to alleviate depression to some extent. You may have noticed that office complexes often have large glass facades.
This design choice is intentional, as the benefits of daylight are well-recognized, including its ability to enhance concentration and boost productivity.
Therefore, installing large windows in private spaces is wise, given that children study at home after school and adults increasingly work from home.
The impact of natural light on our biological clock is also crucial. Large windows help us perceive the time of day more clearly, allowing our bodies to adjust accordingly.
This results in a more balanced sleep-wake cycle and improved sleep quality. Large windows provide a better connection to the outside world, making us feel freer and less confined.
The sense of space is significantly more open, and rooms appear more spacious, influencing aesthetic perception and forming a part of modern architecture. For more on the design and aesthetics of glass facades and large windows, visit Oknoplast.de.
For example, large lift-and-slide doors offer advantages in both winter and summer. They help us through the dreary winter months and, in summer, create an indoor-outdoor feeling by allowing us to open up the windows and incorporate balconies or terraces into the living space.