Windows

Modern windows and their construction, both in India and the US, have bothered me quite a bit for the following reasons:

- Window sills, whenever they exist, are on the outside of the building. These sills are rendered useless, collecting dust and debris.
- The placement and height of the windows ensured that we stared at the walls when we sat on the floor and never could enjoy the view, defeating the very purpose of having those windows there.  Since we preferred floor seating, this issue was nagging me constantly.
- Elaborate window grills are maintenance nightmares.
- Windows with glass panes let in heat even when they are closed.
- Window panes are too big; there is no way to open small portions.
- Windows that are flush with the wall seemed to me like incomplete construction.

So I decided to understand windows very well, before we started our house construction.

Our architect Mr. Sudhir, founder of Peoples Architecture Commonweal (www.commonweal.in), specializes in vernacular architecture. He insisted on us visiting many local traditional houses and gaining understanding on how and why things were done the way they were.

On close observation, I realized that the windows in old, traditional style houses in our village differed quite a bit from the ones in new houses and also had addressed many of my concerns. I wrote about these houses here:

http://devandhema.blogspot.com/2017/12/when-beauty-gives-way.html

With aesthetics and utility in mind, I started fervently reading Christopher Alexander’s book “A Pattern Language” and found it to be a great resource in designing our house. Here I illustrate the features of our house that are in line with the patterns in this book.

Most of our windows are 18” from the floor. They are all used; procured from building demolition sites. All our windows have four panes; two top panes and two bottom ones (pattern 239-Small Panes). The panes are solid wood. In some windows, the small non-operable part at the top is glass. Our walls are 15” thick; 50% thicker than normal brick walls (pattern 197-Thick Walls, pattern 223-Deep Reveals). This is because of the outer skin of burnt bricks that is covering the inner adobe bricks. The thickness of the walls  provides ample sill space. In some places we have extended this sill space to achieve window seating (pattern 202-Built-in Seats). Christopher Alexander says:  "windows that create “places” next to them are not simply luxurious, they are necessary" (pattern 180-Window Places).

A built-in bench by the window in the living area

A built-in bench by the window, connecting kitchen and dining spaces

A built-in window seat

This built-in bench merges with the window sill

Kitchen Window

The kitchen window sill merges with the counter

From Christopher Alexander’s book, I learned that not all windows have to be of the same size. Also, in some places it is not appropriate to have big windows. This was the case in our corridor connecting the two rooms. We have a small window here offering a glimpse of the easterly view,  as in pattern 134-Zen View. 

I enjoy these window places so very much.

-- Hema