FAQ: Landscape windows let in light and nature – what to consider when planning glazing?

Landscape windows are increasingly popular in Honka log homes and holiday homes. And no wonder. At its best, this kind of glazing opens up the building to the surrounding landscape and makes the changing seasons part of the home experience. It brings in natural light and brings together indoor and outdoor living. We asked Honka engineer Jari Toivonen for expert answers to the most common questions about landscape window design. Minna Paulin, Managing Director at Apollo Kaihdin ja Markiisi Oy, also gives advice on what to consider when choosing blinds for large glass surfaces.

Honka Halla. The window solutions and details may vary by country.
Contact your local Honka representative for more information.

1. What are the three most important things to keep in mind when considering landscape windows?

According to Toivonen, the first step in the planning is to determine how much and what size of glazing is desired for the building, and to arrange the glazing to fit the facade. Is the customer looking for restrained and harmonious glazing, or large and impressive glass facades?

The points of the compass also matter, Toivonen says: “When thinking about windows and glazing, it’s important to be aware of orientation and how the morning and evening sun illuminates different spaces, for example.” According to Toivonen, glazing should also be taken into account in electrical design. If sockets are to be installed in a glass wall, this can be done at the locations of the intermediate posts or conveniently and discreetly as floor-mounted sockets with covers, for instance.

Honka Halla. The window solutions and details may vary by country.
Contact your local Honka representative for more information.

2. In what kind of an environment are landscape windows at their best?

Large glazing is often installed in places where the landscape is to be made part of the interior. “At its best, glazing for a home or holiday home opens up the surrounding landscapes, making it possible to enjoy the proximity of nature from early morning to late evening. In the midst of nature, a landscape window is like a large living painting that changes throughout the day and according to the seasons,” describes Toivonen.

In the midst of nature, a landscape window is like a large living painting that changes throughout the day and according to the seasons.

Jari Toivonen, Honka engineer

In his view, landscape windows are suitable for a wide range of environments and are also suitable for more densely populated areas. There are various means of making the area around the glass wall more private, for example, by good placement of the building and spaces, or by using highly reflective special glazing. The use of large amounts of glazing in sheltered courtyards is also becoming more common, and it is a trend seen at the Housing Fair, for example. Many home owners want to seamlessly combine interiors with outdoor spaces for shared leisure time, whether outdoors or indoors.

Honka Lux. The window solutions and details may vary by country.
Contact your local Honka representative for more information.

3. What questions are you most often asked about the design of landscape windows?

The most common question related to glazing, Toivonen says, concerns energy efficiency. He points out that modern glazing meets energy requirements well and is suitable for use in all types of buildings.

According to Toivonen, many people are concerned about the location of doors and ensuring easy access between indoor and outdoor spaces, as there is often a patio area in front of the glass facade. “If you want to open the space outwards and dine outside on the patio in the summer, for instance, it’s a good idea to have a sliding door on the glass facade.” “A sliding door is an easy way to get a larger access route than is possible with a normal door. The area in front of the door is left free, and there’s no need to worry about separate devices for keeping the door open.”

Some people also have concerns about the placement of furniture and the fireplace. The sofa set and the fireplace should be positioned in such a way that the landscape visible through the glazing can be fully enjoyed. “With careful planning, a good solution can always be found for these things,” assures Toivonen.

Honka Halla. The window solutions and details may vary by country.
Contact your local Honka representative for more information.

4. What is the energy efficiency of landscape windows? Does glazing let in cold air? And what about hot summer days?

The manufacture of windows and glass elements has developed greatly in recent years, and they now have excellent thermal insulation and sealing properties. In short, things have come a long way since the days of individual glass panes connected by wooden frames. “The glazing we use consists of three-pane thermal glass elements, which are extremely energy-efficient. This way, even large glass surfaces do not let in cold air, even in severely cold weather,” says Toivonen.

The glazing we use consists of three-pane thermal glass elements, which are extremely energy-efficient. This way, even large glass surfaces do not let in cold air, even in severely cold weather.

Jari Toivonen, Honka engineer

In the case of large glass facades, it is advisable to consider the effect of the sun on hot summer days. A large amount of heat can enter a building through a glass wall, so it’s important to prepare for this in advance. Toivonen says there are good solutions to this problem as well. “We recommend sun protection glazing on large glass surfaces, which significantly reduces the transmission of thermal radiation from the sun.”

Honka Lux. The window solutions and details may vary by country.
Contact your local Honka representative for more information.

5. What kinds of blinds are suitable for large glass surfaces?

Many people who choose large, glazed surfaces also want the privacy and sun protection provided by blinds. According to Toivonen, this is possible with the glazing systems of Honkarakenne’s houses. “We use hermetically sealed window units in the glazing, and blinds can be easily installed on the outside or inside of the glazing.”

According to Minna Paulin from Honka’s partner Apollo Kaihdin ja Markiisi Oy, blinds should be considered as early as the design stage in order to ensure that the overall result is stylish and integrated. She notes that it is important to consider blinds when the electrification is being planned, for example. “Many times, the sockets are at the bottom of the window, but the outlet for the sunshade should be at the top.”

In her view, for large glass surfaces it is advisable to choose blinds that also make it possible to see out. “A common option is a screen fabric, which makes it possible to see out when the sunshade is pulled down. The best sun protection is always obtained when the sunshade is outside the glass surface – that is, outside the building. Blinds in the room are not as effective, as the sun’s radiation has already entered the room through the window.” According to Paulin, the openness factor of the screen fabric – that is, its density – is selected according to the purpose of the sunshade. A good choice for a TV room or study room is a fabric that darkens the room to a large degree, whereas completely darkening fabrics are preferable for the bedroom. Due to the varying amount of light in Finnish conditions, the ease with which the sunshade can be adjusted is also a necessary feature.

Honka Lux. The window solutions and details may vary by country.
Contact your local Honka representative for more information.

Five tips from our experts for designing landscape windows

• Enjoy the morning sun and other natural light – take the points of the compass into account when designing glazing
• Also keep blinds in mind when positioning sockets
• Get the most out of glass technology – for example, use highly reflective special glazing to ensure privacy and protection from the sun
• Choose a sliding door for a patio to save space and make it easier to get around
• Avoid being dazzled in the TV or study room – choose adjustable blinds with a sufficient openness factor for the needs of different spaces, depending on the time of year and day

Honka Lux. The window solutions and details may vary by country.
Contact your local Honka representative for more information.