Review author: Terrari School of Design
Building private housing is beneficial from a practical point of view; it is not an easy, but interesting and exciting task. The home does not have to be large, but the originality of the exterior does not hurt, distinguishing it from standard buildings.
The usual standard “boxes” are becoming a thing of the past; recently, house designs with a bay window have become increasingly popular, the design of which is more complicated, but the results are worth it.
The bay window zone is a protruding part of the building with its own base and roof, placed beyond the plane of the facade. It is a convenient architectural element, having similarities with a regular balcony, the main difference being the absence of partitions. This is a continuation of the room, increasing its volume.
In the Middle Ages, such fortifications served as defensive turrets; Christian architecture placed an altar here; today it is a unique highlight of the cottage, giving it an aristocratic appearance and evoking an association with Gothic castles.
Advantages and disadvantages
The undeniable advantages of the ledge:
- Promotes greater illumination, reducing energy costs.
- Adds footage.
- Opens a panoramic view.
- Creates additional compartments.
- Improves ventilation.
- Gives uniqueness to the building.
The disadvantages include significant financial investments and the need for high-quality insulation. The simplest option would be a one-story house with a bay window, then the required materials and effort for construction will be noticeably reduced, while the owners will be the owners of an exquisite status object.
Extra space in the nursery
One popular use is to create a podium or window seat.
This will be especially true in a children's room. For added comfort, you can add a few decorative pillows or a small mattress.
Also, the bay window space can be turned into a workplace for a schoolchild, and large windows will only be an advantage.
You might consider incorporating some built-in bookshelves to create an intimate reading area.
Varieties
Devices are classified by number of floors, installation angle and configuration. They are planned on any side, looking:
- square;
- triangle;
- trapezium;
- rectangle;
- semicircle;
- polyhedron.
A niche can cover one or several floors, be of a hanging plan, resting on consoles or beams. Square and rectangular shapes are more accessible. A round European extension is placed frontally or in a corner; this is a privilege of brick and foam block structures.
A house made of timber with a bay window, bestowing warmth, comfort and health, often corresponds to a multifaceted design. The planned foundation is a concrete strip foundation or a pile foundation, which depends on the specifics of the soil and the developer’s budget.
The fundamental point is the correct connection of the logs with the ends cut off, observing the required slope and forming tenons and grooves with which assembly is carried out.
The corner projection occupies 1-2 points, it can be classic, connected to the balcony system, with a lower or upper position, made of any building materials.
The choice of a two-level structure is justified when there is a large family and will require the development of specific schemes, the creation of which involves additional calculations of the walls and roof. The roof is single or installed independently.
This kind of work, ensuring the safety of your home, can only be done by professionals.
Design Features
Bay windows can have different shapes: there are even multi-story structures where each previous floor is used as a foundation. In this case, the rafter system is built in accordance with the design of the bay windows. In order for the bay window to be correct and be able to fully perform the functions assigned to it, it is necessary to prevent inaccuracies at the stage of work on the project. This architectural element is in most cases located within one or several floors. Any type of roof is suitable for such structures: hip roof, yand roof, etc.
For glazing the projection, traditional plastic double-glazed windows are usually used. When installing them, cantilever beams are used, and they are fixed to each other using special fasteners. In this case, both sliding systems and profiles can be used. Traditional construction includes both a base and a roof. In the event that the developer decides to build additional walls, it will be necessary to build a foundation. Cantilever slabs made of reinforced concrete can be used as a supporting structure on which the risalit is subsequently installed.
Number of windows
The panoramic glazing covering the entire wall looks amazing, giving the building a special charm, which is confirmed by the photo of the house with a bay window. This model is appropriate in a southerly direction for maximum light admission.
The difficulty lies in the high cost of bay window glass and their careful waterproofing at the joints. Northern regions provide one or more windows to save heat. The height of the opening is not limited.
Types of projections
Such architectural elements are distinguished both by form and structure.
By structure
distinguish:
By form:
| Semicircular |
| Rectangular |
| Triangular |
| Trapezoidal |
| Square |
The most common is a semicircular bay window, which is a protrusion equipped with three windows. This design is called “Venetian”
, since its glazing is carried out over the entire height of the building. It is often located at the front of the building, but recently architects have determined the location for such elements along the edges of buildings.
Primitive, from an architectural point of view, can be called a rectangular or square shape of the protrusion. There is no need to create separate projects for construction. It can harmoniously fit into any interior, making the appearance of the facade more original.
Interior offers
The interior design depends on the purpose of the room. If this is a children's room, there may be a child's play or work corner, or a compartment for sports activities. The living room involves the arrangement of a winter garden, where private conversations are held while drinking tea. Comfort is achieved with a sofa, armchairs and a small table.
In the kitchen, this place can be used as a dining area. The unit adjacent to the bedroom gives it intimacy and romance. A bed or ladies' boudoir is placed here.
The fashionable trend is to equip a bathroom in the extension, in which case it should open onto the patio, promising relaxation during hygiene procedures.
A good version for a modest area is a house with a bay window and an attic. The niche is located below or covers the attic area, where the bedroom is often located. This technique will contribute to spaciousness with external compactness.
Equipping the attic section covers the cost of the glass module and helps reduce heat loss. The usual solution is a brick bottom and a wooden attic extension, which relieves the load on the foundation. Below is an open terrace.
All details are thoroughly taken into account in the design documentation.
Kitchen or dining room
In the bay window you can make room for a cozy dining room if the project does not provide for a separate room.
The work surface of the kitchen itself will also look good in this corner. With this option, the housewife will be able to observe the life of the yard without being distracted from cooking.
Designer design
Bulky furniture is not welcome; it will block the space, introducing twilight. A circle or semicircle will require ordering special cornices or stringing strong wire.
If this is a corner, then the cornice device should be placed separately on each segment. Curtains should match the design of the main room, hang light airy curtains so as not to interfere with natural light, and protect from views and the sun with Roman blinds or blinds. Thick curtains with lambrequins are used in the hall.
Rich colors and ornate patterns add weight to the decor.
Design principles
No matter how wonderful the bay window may be on the outside, it is inside it that amazing transformations take place that can give the home exclusivity and irresistibility.
Even located in the shade of the house, the ledge provides the room with additional daylight.
In order not to dim this light, it is recommended to use light and loose fabrics for curtains, such as tulle, organza or veil.
But since the residents of our country are not accustomed to flaunting their personal lives, thick curtains, gathered with beautiful cords during the day, will be very appropriate.
Depending on which room the bay window is located in, this area can be used to create a living room, a place to relax or work. Or give free rein to your imagination and build a song, dance or games room here.
Or you can arrange a winter garden, a crafts corner or a library. The bay window is often used as a dining room, because what could be more pleasant than gathering with family or friends in a cozy, beautiful place with a view of the garden.
Recommendations
Whatever type you choose, competent masonry is required, be it bricks, blocks or wood. Windows must match the facade. When erecting a two-story house with a bay window, the following nuances are taken into account:
- The walls of the structure are load-bearing.
- Stability is calculated according to other planes.
- Roofing installation also has its own characteristics - the presence of valleys, support beams, and high-quality coating is mandatory.
- The ledge is vulnerable to winds, so a safety margin is taken into account.
- Joint seams with a common roof are treated with sealant.
Architectural sophistication is, without any doubt, a chic decoration of the building, but be prepared for the complexity of the project and an increase in financial investments, which will pay off with the happiness of staying in a house that looks like a fairy-tale palace.
A little history
The ancestors of this architectural element are considered to be the open areas of castles or fortress walls.
The main task of such sites was to defend the interior of the structure and study the surrounding area to detect a potential enemy. With the development of diplomacy and tolerance, the need for such events disappeared, and the sites began to be used as an architectural excess, charmingly changing the appearance of any, even the most austere, building.
The narrow loopholes gradually widened and acquired glass.
