Steven Alvarez General Contractor well, rectangular windows are more common- more pleasing. round shapes should fit the design context. If the design says to go round then go round- but be careful that it makes sense in the overall design context. there is nothing modern about round windows. windows should be based on view, size within the wall and how they fit in the geometry of the room. I cant remember using a round window unless it was part of an historical style or the previous century. sometimes rounds can be seen as "whimsical" and just draw attention-bad. be careful on rounds.
Tracy Taylor I love Love LOVE round windows. Honestly they are an amazing porthole shot of the world! The trim and glass makes them feel more or less old fashioned. Consider getting one that opens! Mix it up have different windows I agree!
Architectrunnerguy The shape of the windows has little to do with style. Style is emboddied in the form of ALL the elements of a building. Here's an example that has BOTH round and rectangular (almost square) windows:
AMN Arched windows. I don't think they lend themselves to a decidedly modern look without a lot of help from other elements in the building's architecture.
And, since there was confusion on the window shape, please define 'modern.' What does it mean to you?
aichoucha The thing is that I was told that aluminium windows don t go perfectly with arched windows. That s why I was thinking about making them all square and look for a more modern look. However, I don t know how.
lessismoore Why would you want aluminum windows? Is this new construction or a re-hab of a very old building? What you have there says "antique" to me. Typically, a window of this shape, in a brick building, might have leaded glass. In the photo, you can see where on the one on the left, the arch is filled in though, so you can have a square glass panel in the arched frame.
aichoucha It s a rehab of an old building. If they look antique, I really want to change them so they look more modern. I am in a country where u can only put aluminium or PVC . PVC are very fragile. So what do think about very large square windows? What should I add so they look more modern. Thank u
lessismoore No, but it is "modern" and it is also of a similar brick exterior. So, you can have the windows in the house "re-shaped" and or replaced to become rectangles ... you can get a similar look. It would could then look more like this ... if this is even an option for you. If you can't, you can have the arch portion "filled in" and have a rectangular window installed.
lewis + smith It takes a certain amount of chutzpah to propose a round window. While Scarpa may have been able to pull this off, I have never felt confident in using one. I think the two smaller rectangular windows look better than the one large on in your sketch above.
nFORMAL design Lewis+Smith...we couldn't have said it better. Scarpa...you nailed it. Round windows to me scream historical. Any interior can look great with round windows, but making it work with the exterior takes skill and a greater, overall vision. In my mind, round windows are best done on sailboats....old wooden ones. Haha.
@lessismoore...the skinnier rectangular ones seem to fit best.
@Dytecture...that look could work. Maybe a progression of narrow and then larger?
Susan Flowers I think either works outside, but I think the arched window as pictured would be difficult to address inside in terms of window treatments (if they are needed)....so I would do rectangular, but only if you can open the structure so they are taller than width...if you simply fill in the arch they will be too short
lessismoore aichoucha - I use photoshop. You know, if we could have a picture of the WHOLE house from the outside ... it would be easier to make a recommendation as to anything with just the bits, it's hard to see what the overall architectural style is and what it might support.
lessismoore I saw another discussion on here with a similar house with a similar dilemma, wish I'd saved that link. I wondered if it was near you! Anyhow - it looks as if your bricks are rapidly getting stuccoed over. I had sort of wanted to see the whole house, from a greater distance, however ... It "looks" like they are just finishing it up the way it is - with arched and just few square/rectangular windows too. I have to wonder, realistically, how much modification you can make at this point in the construction? The overall design looks pretty "classical" to me ... as if you also had an interior court yard and galleries. It may not be the "modern" of designs, but I think the final house will have timeless elements and look (and function) beautifully the way it is shaping up.
Here's an example from the interior of how an arched frame would hold a rectangular window.
[houzz=
lessismoore My experience with glass brick ... if it is hot, it will make things even hotter! We had a "sunroom" with lots of glass brick, on all the north/east and south facings. Even here in a temperate climate, it was an oven in summer and a freezer in winter! We replaced all with insulated walls and double pane windows. Now, the room is livable :-) I love the look, but in small doses. Does your contractor/builder have any recommendations?
aichoucha It seems like too much arched windows. That s why I wanted to may be give the stairs exterior a different look. I live in a hot country, probably glass brick is not a good idea
lessismoore In one of the photos above, you have a large arched doorway (?) flanked with narrow rectangle windows. That looks good. Maybe, if you don't need the light so much on the stairway, you could have some windows of that size and shape instead. It is hard to tell only seeing pieces of house ...
aichoucha Lessismoore , could u please put one long glass pane in the stairs exterior on photoshop? I would like to see how it would looks like. Thanks a lot
lessismoore nFORMAL -hahahaha - and yet, here it is. What a sheeple I am!
Aichoucha - I didn't do this sooner for a number of reasons, #1 being it doesn't look good. And #2 being .. I think it will be hard to find a piece of glass tempered to fill, given your choices there ...
Arlene Warda, Architecture+Interior Design I agree with and like the rectangular windows above (by Dyarchitecture, and lessismoore!) rectangular, and picture windows, large expanse of glass is more modern. Round as window has been popular in the 60's, 70's and done by noted architects here in US, Charles Moore, and Micheal Graves, giving it a more 'dated' look. It has been called 'post modern'... Rectangular is it!!
Arlene Warda, Architecture+Interior Design Hi aichocha,
Thanks! take a look at:
My idea book: Modern exteriors:
1. Houzz.com my page: Modern exteriors
2. My example: a clean modern window look, rectangles, with small
operable 'awings' windows for fresh air. this is typically
done on a lot of examples of modern windows.
I see you've done a lot of arches already! any chance a few of them
can be 'rectangular' or 'square' picture windows. A few on the tower
can be changed to squares, if you take out the arch. I guess I could
live with one or two. So, think about it!.. (I see it on 'lessismore'
as one rectangular idea, it looks good) maybe try it with awnings
maybe 2, windows, operable awings, below a large picture window.
It will definately look more modern!...Thanks, Arlene
Arlene Warda, Architecture+Interior Design Hi aichocha, Here is one solution I did on your tower, two story, to put in 'rectangular' windows with added two 'awning' windows below, operable, for opening, and letting in fresh air!.. .it is one of many ideas! enjoy!..
(color of window frames is variable: they could be: grey, rust-brown, black,...etc.. this red rust was only to look at frames better with black glass
window)...
lessismoore The problem I'm having with modern windows in this building is that the examples of modern I'm seeing have lots of glass and steel framing, but then, are often (not always) softened with wood siding in combination with concrete or masonry, but not dominated by the masonry (well except for one example here). In this building, I'm afraid that "modern" inserts, especially narrow rectangles, make it look (and this is my own imagery) like a prison tower with guns slits! So you end up with a look that is more "feudal" rather than modern - or worse yet, factory! Then, there is a real issue of available windows. In a very hot climate, you will want more insulated walls/windows, otherwise you create a green house (solar oven) of a home. I don't know what options they have for double pane/lo e or other heat resistant windows ... it did not sound like they had many options. It looks like the construction is going in a more spanish/mediterrean direction - but since I can't see the building in full context ...
aichoucha I m going to try to get a picture of the whole house for u. But I think u r right Lessismoore, I m really scared it looks like a factory or sth like that.
Arlene Warda, Architecture+Interior Design Hi ai, thanks for asking. Glass block is a modern material, people do it, use it successfully. For my projects and for this project, I wouldn't like it. Just athestics, I don't like the look. I like real windows, with plate glass to give it a clean look!..
Arlene Warda, Architecture+Interior Design A mix of arches and modern windows would look nice. I know it is the setting and you are corresponding to some of the regional architecture of the area! Thanks!..
And, since there was confusion on the window shape, please define 'modern.' What does it mean to you?
So what do think about very large square windows? What should I add so they look more modern. Thank u
@lessismoore...the skinnier rectangular ones seem to fit best.
@Dytecture...that look could work. Maybe a progression of narrow and then larger?
Here's an example from the interior of how an arched frame would hold a rectangular window.
[houzz=
Aichoucha - I didn't do this sooner for a number of reasons, #1 being it doesn't look good. And #2 being .. I think it will be hard to find a piece of glass tempered to fill, given your choices there ...
Thanks! take a look at:
My idea book: Modern exteriors:
1. Houzz.com my page: Modern exteriors
2. My example: a clean modern window look, rectangles, with small
operable 'awings' windows for fresh air. this is typically
done on a lot of examples of modern windows.
I see you've done a lot of arches already! any chance a few of them
can be 'rectangular' or 'square' picture windows. A few on the tower
can be changed to squares, if you take out the arch. I guess I could
live with one or two. So, think about it!.. (I see it on 'lessismore'
as one rectangular idea, it looks good) maybe try it with awnings
maybe 2, windows, operable awings, below a large picture window.
It will definately look more modern!...Thanks, Arlene
(color of window frames is variable: they could be: grey, rust-brown, black,...etc.. this red rust was only to look at frames better with black glass
window)...