Panoramic glazing, types and designs of panoramic glazing, elements of a panoramic window

Pros and cons of installing panoramic windows in a country house
Types of panoramic glazing
Difficulties of panoramic glazing

The demand for panoramic windows in private homes is growing every year. The view of nature and the abundance of sunlight fascinate customers who are tired of the same type of city landscapes. But every coin has a flip side: in addition to the advantages, panoramic glazing also has certain disadvantages, and technological limitations often make the installation of such windows unprofitable or completely impossible. Let's figure it out.

Panoramic windows for office and home

Rice. 2. Private house with panoramic glazing.

Rice. 3. Apartment with panoramic windows.

Rice. 4. High-rise building with panoramic glazing.

It should be noted that panoramic glazing is by no means the prerogative of only high-rise buildings. Large windows can also be installed in private homes. Naturally, the most appropriate time to introduce this technology is the beginning of building design. This option will allow you to use large panoramic windows in the design of your house as efficiently and safely as possible. Yes, it is possible to replace standard-sized windows and then dismantle the wall. But at the same time, it will be necessary to carry out a significant reconstruction of most of the house and redistribute the load in a way that will allow the building not to lose its strength and stability (since most or the entire wall will be replaced with a panoramic window). But these are special cases.

Things are much simpler with the use of this technology in modern high-rise buildings. Therefore, it is now very rare to find an office space that does not have panoramic glazing. Large windows not only increase the brightness of the space, but also create the illusion of its expansion, which, in turn, allows employees to be more productive and efficient during working hours.

Panoramic glazing of the cottage and veranda

Rice. 5. Panoramic glazing of the veranda.

Rice. 6. Panoramic windows in the cottage.

Panoramic glazing can also be used not only in buildings located in the city area, but also in cottages located outside it. It should be noted that large windows can be installed not only in the walls, but also in the ceiling of the attic, which gives more opportunities for interior design. This solution will be an excellent addition to the children's room on the top floor of the cottage. But it also has a significant drawback. The beauty of the starry night sky will be replaced by scorching direct sunlight during the day (in warm seasons). And, despite the increased thermal insulation properties and the presence of sun protection film, the window will not be able to completely protect the floor and the rest of the room from sunlight. Therefore, it is advisable to equip panoramic windows on the ceiling with special roller blinds.

In addition to walls and ceilings, panoramic glazing can also be used on balconies and loggias. You isolate the room from noise and dust, while maintaining a view of the surrounding area.

Panoramic glazing of the veranda is one of the simplest procedures. This room, as a rule, does not bear excessive load on the structural elements, so there is no need to strengthen them. You just need to select double-glazed windows that have the necessary strength characteristics. The veranda with panoramic glazing will be a wonderful place to relax.

What to consider before installation?

If all the shortcomings do not bother you, and you still want to install panoramic windows, because they also have a lot of advantages, then you need to be prepared for the many questions and problems that are caused by the installation of such windows.

Please note that glass is a cold material , and in winter, due to the difference in temperatures inside and outside the room, a zone with cold air appears near the glass, which is especially unpleasant if you like to sit near the window. Therefore, it will be necessary to provide heating for this area. There are a lot of options: a convector under the floor right in the area near the window, or tubular radiators, or simply choose heated windows, which is effective, but quite expensive.

If there is a child in the house, then safety can be ensured simply by choosing a design with an increased number of bars and partitions so that he cannot stick his head in or climb out through the window.

It will also be necessary to decide on the design and materials of use . The frame itself can be made of plastic, wood and aluminum. Naturally, it is believed that metal and wood are much stronger than PVC, but there are exceptions: in some cases, plastic even wins in strength, especially since it is not as cold as aluminum and is not as susceptible to precipitation as wood.

As for the design, size of the window and its configuration, then it is worth starting not so much from the interior design, but from the facade of the house - it is this that will tell you where and how logical it is to use this or that type of glazing.

Next, we decide on the opening method . The most common methods are:

tilt and turn - the most popular, allows you to both swing the structure and open it slightly for easy ventilation;
parallel-sliding - provides excellent tightness and thermal insulation, but the seals quickly fail, so you need to prepare for frequent repairs;
accordion folding is a rather rare method that is suitable for warmer regions, since it cannot provide reliable thermal insulation. But in this way you can completely move the entire window, leaving a huge opening in the wall, which can be very useful in some cases;
Lift-and-slide type is the most functional, sealed, silent, warm and reliable, but is quite expensive.

Don’t forget about such a window design element as curtains : they may be absent altogether according to your design ideas. Otherwise, you need to immediately consider the possibility of attaching the cornice to the ceiling or wall, and in the case of Roman or roller blinds, be prepared that with the slightest turn of one sash, the entire structure will make a lot of noise, but do you need it?

In general, panoramic windows are very beautiful, but such beauty in the house requires a serious approach both during design and in window care, so be prepared for this in advance.

Panoramic glazing of restaurants and cafes

Rice. 7. Restaurant with panoramic windows.

Rice. 8. Cafe with panoramic glazing.

Good cuisine, competent and efficient staff - these factors are certainly important for increasing the popularity and success of a restaurant or cafe. But successful interior design plays an important role in this regard. Visitors should not only like the food and service. They should be comfortable. Therefore, when designing an interior, it is vital to create the right atmosphere of the establishment. And, if the room is located on the upper floors of a high-rise building, or in a tourist area, then the most favorable solution would be to provide cafe visitors with a view of the best part of the city, which always surpasses the view of blank walls (no matter how beautifully decorated they are).

It should be noted that for panoramic glazing of restaurants and cafes, double-glazed windows with high strength, thermal insulation and sound insulation should be used. Visitors should have a wonderful view, but without the penetration of street noise from vehicle traffic.

Another important detail is that replacing standard windows with panoramic ones requires coordination with the relevant authorities and inspection of the premises by construction industry specialists. This will allow for the correct and safe use of this technology without possible negative consequences.

Technical requirements for panoramic windows

For a panoramic window, it is better to choose double-glazed windows made of tempered glass. In addition to increased strength characteristics, this material is covered with a special protective film, which, if the integrity of the glass structure is damaged, holds the fragments together, preventing them from crumbling.

You cannot select double-glazed windows larger than 3 * 3.2 m and with a width of space between the glasses exceeding 2.5 cm. The large internal space of a double-glazed window with a sharp temperature change can provoke compression or expansion of the air insulating layer. This may subsequently lead to depressurization of the window and disruption of the integrity of its structure (gaps will appear in the seal, etc.).

It is necessary to select a sufficiently strong aluminum profile that can withstand the load from a heavy double-glazed window. The durability of the entire structure directly depends on the correct choice. The following requirements are imposed on the profiles:

It must be possible to install a wide glass unit (more than 5 cm)
Possibility of profile reinforcement (to increase strength)
Increased thermal insulation characteristics (to reduce heat transfer through the profile)

Glazing

In wide-format window structures, triplex can be used for safety.
The main area of any window structure is occupied by translucent filling. It is clear that ordinary glass cannot solve the problem of heat conservation.

Therefore, in wide-format glazing, either massive packages with two chambers (at least 32 mm thick) are used, or single-chamber packages with an increased distance frame (16 mm), filling the cavity with an inert gas and low-emission i-coating of the glass.
(To improve the thermal insulation properties of double-glazed windows, i-glass can also be used; frames of different widths also serve the same purpose.) Application of a selective coating, which reflects heat from heating devices back into the house, reduces heat loss through the glass by 90%, significantly increasing energy efficiency characteristics of window construction. For example:
the coefficient of heat transfer resistance for a single-chamber double-glazed window with a low-emission coating and with a spacer frame width of 16 mm is 0.59 m²‧°C/W, for a double-chamber double-glazed window with the same coating and inter-glass spaces of 12 and 16 mm - 0.72 m²‧° C/W

Advantages of panoramic windows

It should be noted that the use of panoramic glazing is advisable only if there is an excellent view of the surrounding area. And if the panorama that opens from the windows is only depressing or, at best, does not evoke any emotions, then it is better to leave everything as it is. But if you still want to make panoramic glazing of your premises, regardless of the presence or absence of an attractive view of the surrounding area, carefully read the following paragraphs of this article. Panoramic windows have a number of irrefutable advantages, which we will look at in more detail below.

Maximum room illumination

Naturally, the larger the window, the brighter the room will be. And since with panoramic glazing, as a rule, one of the walls is completely replaced with double-glazed windows, the illumination of the room will increase several times. In an office, this feature will allow you to do without artificial lighting during the daytime, which, in turn, will lead to energy savings. The same applies to higher educational institutions and private residential buildings. It should be noted that natural light in moderation has a beneficial effect on health.

Visually increases the area of the room

Panoramic glazing creates the illusion of expanded space. This feature is perfect for rooms with a small area (living rooms, verandas, loggias, balconies, kitchens, offices, etc.). Visually expanded space can increase efficiency and, accordingly, productivity. Thanks to the visually increased area, the oppressive feeling from walls that are too close will disappear. Panoramic glazing will be an excellent alternative for visually expanding space if the possibility of directly expanding the area of the room is not available.

Increases visibility from the room

With panoramic glazing, the viewing degree can increase to 1800 (if the entire wall has been replaced with double-glazed windows). This makes it possible:

Monitor the work of your employees for those in charge of the office department
Get a great view of the surrounding area (in low-rise buildings)
Opportunity to observe the panorama of the entire city (in high-rise buildings)

The increased visibility, in addition to the practical component, also has an aesthetic value. It allows you to complement the visual design of the interior of the room, making it more attractive and respectable.

Benefits of an extended window frame

Improved lighting . Sunlight penetrates more into the room, the room becomes brighter. The owner will receive good lighting and save money on chandeliers, lamps and candlesticks.
Unity with the outside world . Panoramic windows create the feeling as if there is no barrier between the room and the street. If the view from the opening opens onto a blooming garden, city skyscrapers or other beautiful views, this is a big plus.
Stylish and modern solution . The extended frame looks very nice, although it differs only in size. This type of glazing gives interesting landscapes and views. The room itself may have a nondescript design, on which the panorama will look advantageous.

Cons of panoramic windows

As you can see, panoramic glazing is not only beautiful, but also practical. Thanks to the advantages described above, this technology is rapidly gaining popularity in all countries of the world. But near the panoramic windows. Unfortunately, there are several significant drawbacks that can overshadow all the previously described positive characteristics. Of course, most of these negative phenomena can only manifest themselves if the rules and recommendations are not followed during the selection and installation of a panoramic window. Next, we will consider in detail all the possible disadvantages of panoramic windows.

Heat loss

Rice. 9. Infrared image showing heat loss through panoramic windows.

Despite the fact that every year the design of double-glazed windows is improved and the heat-saving characteristics of windows are constantly increasing, at the moment windows, unfortunately, cannot compete with walls in terms of heat transfer resistance. Moreover, panoramic windows. Since they sometimes occupy the area of the entire wall, they can significantly reduce the degree of thermal insulation of the room. Therefore, the use of panoramic glazing is impractical in extremely cold latitudes and is more applicable in countries with milder or hotter climates. Depending on the temperature conditions, you should select a double-glazed window with the optimal number of chambers.

Poor sound insulation

Rice. 10. Window soundproofing diagram.

As is the case with thermal insulation, windows currently cannot compare with walls in terms of sound insulation. Yes, there are examples of double-glazed windows with increased noise reduction. But with panoramic glazing, this figure decreases in direct proportion to the size of the window. Therefore, if you decide to use this technology in the interior design of your premises, keep in mind that the background noise will inevitably increase. But, if the home is located on the upper floors of a high-rise building, then this factor should not be of particular concern to you.

Icing of glass in winter

Rice. 11. Icing of glass.

This problem can become a real “scourge” for homeowners with panoramic windows. It usually occurs in two cases:

Insufficient power of the floor convector. This device creates a “thermal curtain” - rising currents of warm air that pass along the inner surface of the window and prevents the formation of ice when there is a large temperature difference.
Violation of the integrity of the glass unit or profile structure and subsequent depressurization of the window. Deformation of structural elements due to incorrect selection of a double-glazed window or profile creates the opportunity for cold outside air to leak into the protective space between the glasses. This provokes the formation of ice or condensation.

Difficulty in cleaning a panoramic window

Rice. 12. An industrial climber cleans panoramic windows.

If you have huge panoramic windows, cleaning them can be a real challenge. This applies primarily to the outside. Window. The inside can be washed without any problems. Cleaning the outside of a window requires, at a minimum, a squeegee with a very long handle (depending on the width of the windows) and can be very risky. Therefore, in most cases, owners of apartment buildings with panoramic glazing turn to specialized companies that provide (extremely expensive) services for cleaning windows from the outside using industrial climbers. The cost of this service, in addition to workers, in some cases includes the rental of a special lift.

Low privacy of interior space

Rice. 13. Panoramic windows without protective tinted film reduce the privacy of the room.

This drawback comes into force, as a rule, in cases where panoramic glazing is installed on the first floors. And if double-glazed windows without a special tinted coating were used, which protects the room from observation from the outside.

Yes, if you prefer to keep your private life secret from prying eyes, then panoramic windows made of ordinary glass will not suit you. In this case, it is recommended to use tinted windows for glazing. They will reduce to zero the possibility of seeing everything happening indoors from the street. At the same time, you will see everything that is happening outside.

Restrictions on furnishing the premises

Panoramic glazing usually takes up an entire wall. This may be an advantage, but in terms of furnishing the room it is a significant drawback. You will have three walls at your disposal, which you can use to install and install hanging cabinets, shelves, and arrange tables, sofas and armchairs. If the room in which panoramic glazing was installed has a small area, then you can forget about placing a large amount of furniture in it. But, if you decide to install panoramic windows, then, most likely, you took this fact into account.

The problem of vandalism

This problem is acutely felt, as a rule, by residents of the first two or three floors of apartment buildings and cottages. It is solved by using so-called “armored” double-glazed windows (windows that are extremely resistant to impact loads). But this option is very expensive. Therefore, for panoramic glazing it is recommended to use double-glazed windows with a special protective coating in the form of a film. If intruders break a window, it will prevent the fragments from scattering throughout the room and hold them in place. You can also use tempered glass, which when broken will shatter into soft, tiny shards.

Alone with everyone?

Right away, without going into technical and much more important issues, private developers express concerns about the privacy of a house with transparent walls.

A lot of light, a lot of “air”, interesting interior design, modern facade architecture - all these are obvious advantages of panoramic glazing. But will the inhabitants of premises “open to the world” feel comfortable?

Of course, walls with floor-to-ceiling windows should not overlook the street or the neighboring cottage located a few tens of meters away. Through them there should be a view of the greenery of the garden, forest, water surface of a lake or river. Houses with such glazing are often placed on hills so that you can freely admire the picturesque distances, but it would be inappropriate for curious people to “admire” your private life.

In addition, in the case of French windows, no one has canceled the tinting of the glass, as well as the use of blinds, Roman blinds or all kinds of draperies, which serve both to shade the rooms and to create an atmosphere of privacy in the premises. To control such “equipment”, remote controls are used or they are connected to the “smart home” system.

By the way, there are multilayer electrochromic glasses that can be used to realize the effect of variable light transmission and protection from prying eyes. Matte in the normal state and becoming transparent when voltage is applied, they are designed specifically for large glazed spaces - translucent staircases, swimming pools, etc.

Basic elements of a panoramic window

So, you have weighed all the advantages and disadvantages, and decided for yourself that you want to produce panoramic glazing. Moreover, you want to do it correctly so that the window serves you faithfully and properly for many years. So how to choose the right components to install panoramic windows most effectively? First of all, you should not rely only on yourself in this matter. A more preferable option would be to consult with an experienced specialist who will inspect the room and tell you which elements of the panoramic window will be most suitable in this case.

Profile systems

Rice. 14. Metal-plastic profile.

The profile system, which is the basis for the entire window structure, must have increased rigidity and strength. In most cases, metal-plastic is used as the material for the manufacture of the profile system. This material, unlike wood, is not subject to deformation under prolonged exposure to high humidity or dryness due to elevated temperature, is resistant to mechanical damage, easy to clean, does not require regular painting or a protective layer of varnish, etc. Aluminum is most often used as a metal in the manufacture of profiles.

Functional double glazing

Rice. 15. Structure of a double-glazed window.

Since panoramic glazing can significantly increase the degree of heat loss in a given room, it is recommended to choose heat-insulating double-glazed windows. Depending on the average annual temperature, these can be single-chamber or double-glazed windows (the latter are recommended for use in relatively cold latitudes). An inert gas acts as a filler for the chambers. Most often this is argon. Also, to increase thermal insulation, it is possible to coat the outside of the window with a protective layer of vinyl film or spray metal oxides.

Window fittings

Rice. 16. Accessories.

Even if you have selected the right double-glazed windows, chosen the optimal metal-plastic profiles, and made all the necessary calculations, poor-quality fittings can negate all the work done and turn the operation of a panoramic window into torture. Therefore, as with the selection of previously described components, when choosing accessories, consult with specialists in the industry.

Important! High-quality fittings are not made of plastic. All components (hinges, handles, fasteners) must be made only of metal. It is metal fittings that ensure maximum functionality of all window systems (burglary protection, ventilation system, blocker for erroneous opening of sashes, etc.).

Window profile

Like standard ones, panoramic windows can be made of plastic, wood and aluminum. Combined structures from different materials are also used, where one of them acts as a base, and the other, as a rule, as an internal (made of wood) or external (made of aluminum) lining.

PVC frames

have low thermal conductivity - 0.15–0.2 W/(m²‧°C), are not exposed to atmospheric influences, are easy to maintain and retain their original appearance throughout their entire service life. They are affordable and have long proven themselves among consumers. But if the strength of plastic is more than enough for ordinary windows, then in order to bear the load from large-format glazing, it needs reinforced metal reinforcement, an increased number of chambers (at least 5, with a total thickness of 70 mm) and stiffeners, and thickening of the outer walls. Moreover, GOST strictly limits the permissible dimensions of PVC sashes, which is why it is still necessary to install lintels in the structure.

Considering the “weight” of double-glazed windows (especially double-chamber ones weighing 40 kg/m²) and the profile itself, it is necessary to provide powerful locking and fastening fittings, as well as carefully calculate the load-bearing capacity of the base, primarily in the case of glazing balconies, as well as when installing structures in old houses.

Another problem is that even reinforced plastic is not free from thermal expansion, which requires an increase in the installation gap during installation, and also impairs the performance of the sealing circuit, causing the windows to blow out and the need for periodic adjustment.

There are other disadvantages too. Firstly, PVC frames are relatively wide, and in continuous glazing, from which maximum “transparency” is required, they look somewhat ponderous, roughly delineating the openings. Secondly, arched structures with a small radius of curvature (less than 300 mm, for some companies - less than 340 mm) are “inaccessible” to plastic, and the diameter of a round window should be no more than 680 mm.

In combined aluminum-plastic window models, the PVC frame is covered with an external aluminum trim, which expands the range of decorative solutions. A fashionable design option is the connection of vertical and horizontal planks at an angle of 90⁰

Wooden frame

French windows are certainly beautiful and respectable. Such frames are durable, warm both in appearance and to the touch (thermal conductivity coefficient 0.09–0.18 W/(m²‧°C)), have good air permeability and sound insulation properties.

High-quality profiles are made from both dry solid hardwood and laminated veneer lumber. Modern technologies and processing methods make it possible to eliminate many of the “imperfections” of wood: a tendency to cracking and warping, instability under the influence of temperature and humidity changes, high hygroscopicity, susceptibility to biological damage and fire hazard. However, living material remains living material, and in case of any violation of the production technology (in particular, when using wet or overdried raw materials), this will make itself felt in the form of shrinkage and, as a result, jamming or sagging of the sashes, etc.

In addition, no matter how durable the paint coating is, over time it will inevitably begin to fade, deteriorate and will require renewal. True, this problem can be dealt with by installing protective and decorative aluminum overlays on the outer parts of the profile. In a word, everything would be fine if not for the price. Wooden windows not only look expensive, but are also expensive.

Aluminum profiles

have unconditional advantages over PVC and wood. They are distinguished by high strength (their material is an aluminum alloy containing magnesium and silicon, which has undergone heat treatment and hardening), resistance to deformation and temperature changes in the range from –80 to +100°C. The products are insensitive to moisture, chemical and biological influences, and are not subject to thermal expansion, corrosion, or fading. Such profiles are fireproof, and their declared service life is not limited to half a century.

Warm aluminum profile ALT W72
Since the thermal conductivity of aluminum is 221 W/(m²‧°C), which is incomparably greater than that of plastic and wood, the profiles are made with a thermal break - a glass fiber reinforced polyamide insert (the chamber between the inserts can be filled with polyethylene foam). It separates the internal and external parts of the frame, preventing the cold from outside from penetrating into the room. The result is so-called “warm” aluminum profiles , which, with a thermal break width of at least 34 mm (window-door series
ALT W72 from the Group), can be used even in energy-efficient buildings.
The multi-chamber profile structure and double sealing circuit also work to increase the thermal insulation properties of structures. Moreover, “cold” aluminum remains the best option for panoramic glazing of unheated rooms, including in terms of price-quality ratio.

To make aluminum windows look “cozy” and “homey” from the inside of the premises, their frames and sashes can be hidden under linings made of pine, oak, walnut, etc. To bring the thermal insulation properties of wood and metal closer together, the profile in this case must be “warm” " The principle of fastening the cladding is sliding, due to the risk of cracking due to fluctuations in temperature and humidity

With the help of aluminum facade systems, glass houses can be built.
A significant advantage of aluminum is its lightness,

due to which the pressure on the supporting base from wide-format glazing is reduced.
At the same time, its rigidity is sufficient to bear the weight of double-glazed windows, maintaining the stability of the structure even under high wind loads. Moreover, metal resists burglary much better than plastic and wood, and subject to “safe execution” (special double-glazed windows, reinforced fittings), aluminum windows achieve the highest burglary resistance class ( RC 4).
The properties of the material make it possible to make profiles thin, which is especially valuable for large transparent planes, and to give them any complex configuration, thus realizing the most daring design ideas.

Types of panoramic windows

Finally, before you finally make a choice in favor of panoramic glazing, it remains to decide on the preferred and most optimal type of panoramic windows for your room. There are only three of them:

Classic panoramic windows
Bay panoramic windows
Corner panoramic windows

In the last three paragraphs of this article, we will analyze in detail all the advantages and relative disadvantages of these types of windows and find out in which cases it is more preferable to use one or another type. But, as in the other cases described above, when choosing, it is recommended to consult professionals.

Classic panoramic windows

Rice. 17. Panoramic window.

This type of window is the most common in modern architecture. Such glazing consists of panoramic windows covering the entire wall, from floor to ceiling, which are installed strictly in one straight line. The advantages of this type are:

Ease of installation (relative to the other two types of panoramic glazing)
Easy to clean. Classic panoramic windows located in a straight line are much easier to clean from the outside on your own than the other two types.
This type of window is suitable for installation in most buildings with a standard layout.

Bay panoramic windows

A rarer type of panoramic glazing. As the name suggests, this method is used for glazing bay windows (a room with a semicircular protrusion on the outside). With this type of panoramic glazing, double-glazed windows are installed at a certain angle, the magnitude of which depends on the radius of the semicircle and the distance between the boundaries of the bay window. Among the significant disadvantages of this method, one can highlight the complicated (compared to the other two types of glazing) process of cleaning the outside of the windows and installing all structural elements.

Corner panoramic windows

Corner panoramic glazing can increase the viewing angle to 2700 (which is impossible when using classic and bay panoramic windows). This type of glazing, in terms of complexity of installation and cleaning, is somewhere between the two options described above. There are three types of corner panoramic glazing based on the principle of composition:

Transparent corner. The double-glazed windows are closely connected to each other. The seam between them is sealed using transparent sealant. The use of reinforced profile systems is required.