Window and internal windowsill
How to make them work best
Window and internal windowsill: how to make them functional
The ultimate goal of the design activity is to satisfy the needs of the users and to guarantee their comfort. Given this, it is known that buildings must be conceived in close relation to the context in which they are located and that it is important to provide adequate openings within the residential spaces, since the latter determine the psycho-physical well-being of the users. If it is possible to insert large size fixtures, it will be optimal to make the space under the window functional, so as to benefit from this element, not only from an aesthetic and comfort point of view, but also from a practical one.
Thanks to this short guide we will discover the potential of an architectural component that is little used by the interior environment, so that we can make the most of it.
Fixtures and residences: a brief historical excursus
The openings have had changing functions over time and have been given different importance, in relation to the stylistic and architectural trends that have followed one another over the centuries. The peculiarities of transparent surfaces have also been influenced by the social and cultural aspects of very different peoples.
If in ancient times the openings constituted a small part of the building envelope, with the passing of the centuries and the spread of glass production, voids began to characterize the facades of buildings more consistently. In the medieval period, glass began to be used more frequently, first in aristocratic homes and then in middle-class homes.
The growing glass production, in the years following the 17th century, allowed residences to be equipped with increasingly larger and more varied glass windows.
Today the urban environment represents the result of the stratification of cultures and traditions that have established themselves in different eras and is characterized by buildings that are very different from each other, both in terms of construction typology and technological components.
Early 900s properties
The buildings of the beginning of the century were characterized by small openings: windows with shutters and richly decorated frames and French windows that gave access to small rounded balconies. In France, the Impressionist painters of the late 800th century began to portray balconies depicted close to windows from which the protagonists of their paintings look out. The typical "French balcony" became an icon and remained over time an archetype known to the majority of people: the peculiarity is that of having a railing positioned close to the glass or slightly protruding to allow the placement of plants and flowers. It is a space that is often not usable but used for purely aesthetic and decorative purposes.
Example of Parisian buildings with small and curved balconies – Photo on Pexels
50s Real Estate
The famous architect Gio Ponti, in 1954, on the occasion of his project “Finestra Abitata” stated that:
“A room has, by nature, four walls. The room with a full glass window has three walls and a void. The room with the furnished window has four walls again, one of which is transparent […] And on this transparent wall the compositional design that is on the other walls continues.”
With these words, the famous architect gave the same importance and function of solid walls to transparent surfaces, which were suitable for furnishing like opaque ones. The interior spaces thus became a true continuum with the exterior and those who lived there enjoyed a higher level of comfort.
To learn about the retrospective dedicated by MAXXI to this great architect learn more here
See here Gio Ponti's architectures in dwg format
70's Real Estate
The great ferment of construction in this period gives rise to multi-storey buildings where quantity often goes to the detriment of quality. However, the 70s also represent the era in which luxury residences spread within urban spaces, where light is one of the fundamental elements around which the design of the entire apartment is concentrated. This is how we witness the introduction of facades new, where the aperture they become not only a functional element but also a component that determines the actual design.
New constructions since the 2000s
In new buildings, the designer usually pays particular attention to the energy efficiency of the windows and doors. Currently, there has been a reversal in the choice of windows and doors and the type of glass, paying attention to the energy performance rather than size. In fact, modern residential buildings are often equipped with smaller transparent surfaces than in the past and their characteristics are chosen based on the context in which the property is located. The ultimate goal of this modus operandi is to ensure significant energy and consequently economic savings.
70s houses, rationality flooded by light
As mentioned above, the 70s were characterized by a building with specific characteristics through which, even today, it is very recognizable. The internal layout of the residences is characterized by clean and geometric cuts and the rooms are large and bright thanks to the generous openings. The latter, divided into windows and French windows, sometimes become an integral part of facades in which full and empty spaces alternate according to precise geometric designs. Often, today, those who live in this type of house want to make the most of the area near the window in order to benefit from natural light and, in the case of houses surrounded by greenery or with a belvedere, the view of the surrounding context.
The windows thus provide interesting ideas for recreating small living rooms where the large windowsills they are used as support surfaces or comfortable seats equipped with cushions.
If the dimensions allow it, the window sill can be converted into a home workstation, an optimal solution in a historical period like the current one, in which agile working is becoming an increasingly widespread practice. The advantage of enjoying a workstation under window is twofold: natural light guarantees optimal illumination without wasting energy and money and the view of the context promotes the user's psycho-physical well-being and concentration.
But the window, if equipped with a large sill, can also become a large shelf on which to place books, frames and furnishing accessories, essential for those who live in the home.
Internal window sills usually have a length equal to the window plus 4 cm and protrude by a minimum of 2 cm but can reach large sizes in the case of solutions intended to perform a specific function. An example of this is the windowsill used as a work surface that reaches 40 cm or the one that serves as a kitchen top even 65 cm wide. The materials can be varied: from classic marble, to wood, to stoneware for kitchen tops.
The renovation of a 70's apartment in Turin
The architectural firm SCEG he took care of the complete renovation of an apartment located in an elegant 70s context. In the Pozzo Strada district of Turin, overlooking one of the largest parks in the city, Parco Ruffini, was born “Inhabited Window” an ambitious project characterized by a modern and refined personality. As can be deduced from the name, the windows of this apartment become the real protagonists offering a visual continuum with the green external context. The elegant custom-designed furnishing solutions maximize the functionality of the spaces adjacent to the openings, giving the house a refined and contemporary look.
The added value around which the entire project revolves is represented by the idea of a path that discovers, one after the other, the various residential environments, which appear to be part of a harmonious and light whole.
The large windows occupy a large part of the building's facade and ensure soft and natural lighting. Thanks to the carefully studied functionalization, the space "behind the window" becomes a unique corner for aesthetics and practicality.
Curtains yes or curtains no?
As for the use of the space around the window, it will be good to optimize the light intensity and at the same time have the possibility of regulating its flow. To this end, an important choice concerns the possibility of inserting internal curtains. However, lately the trend is also reversed: this is the case of lofts where the windows they are left on purpose free from obstacles.
There is no best and always valid solution, as the choice is influenced by many aspects such as privacy, functionality and aesthetics. If you are dealing with an isolated house, you can afford not to insert any filtering element, as, in addition to not having other buildings around, you often enjoy a beautiful natural panorama. If, on the other hand, the residence is located in a densely populated urban context, the internal curtains will ensure the right level of privacy for its inhabitants. A “packaging” or “sliding” model will make the element more flexible and allow you to open and close it as needed. Even the use of the windowsill will not be compromised with these solutions. The insertion of textiles also depends on the needs of the user, the habits and the context in which you find yourself. It is in fact emblematic how in some northern European countries, blackout curtains are never used; examples of this are France and Holland. The reasons for this habit are varied and range from the need for greater solar gains, especially in winter, to social and religious reasons. For these reasons, it is natural to coin a new motto: "Different countries, different windows ".
Windows and furniture
What if the window was a precious frame inserted inside the most lived-in room of the house? kitchen overlooking the outside It has always been everyone's dream: to be able to prepare meals while enjoying natural light and, when possible, the surrounding panorama. However, this area does not always lend itself to the insertion of the hob, for compositional and structural reasons. Those who benefit from it, however, in addition to the aforementioned advantages, can enjoy a rapid exchange of air, necessary and frequent, as well as a valuable compositional element. The top can have different depths, depending on the dimensions available and it is best not to place the burners in correspondence with the window, to avoid the air flows going to extinguish the flames. This constraint can instead be overcome if the choice falls on an induction hob but it is necessary to make the right considerations regarding the filtering system. Furthermore, what is essential is to precisely calculate the opening of the door and the position of the taps, in order not to hinder the correct use of the various components. An intelligent choice will consist in the insertion of a sliding window so as not to have problems in ergonomic terms.
To view the drawing of a sliding window click here
Photo on Pexels
