Thanks to the development of modern technologies, there is currently a significant increase in the popularity of panoramic windows used to equip large apartments, as well as country houses and cottages. Panoramic glazing allows you to make it possible to fully view the surrounding area. By designing window openings throughout the wall, you can bring a feeling of special lightness and spaciousness to the rooms, as well as significantly improve lighting, literally filling the house with natural light.

Glazing that occupies most of the wall or completely from floor to ceiling is called panoramic or "French". Initially, such windows were installed in the south of France, including in houses with a terrace or a veranda. Thus, a wonderful view from the windows, emphasizing the beauty of the surrounding landscape, opened up to the admiring guests. Soon, this trend became quite widespread. To the greatest extent, panoramic glazing is suitable for country houses and cottages, in addition, some residents of apartment buildings can afford to install such windows.

The advantages of using a large number of structures transparent to light are obvious. Among them are the following:

• panoramic windows look very stylish in the interior of the room, as well as outside;
• a significant increase in the level of daylight - with such glazing, the room from dawn to dusk is literally flooded with sunlight, which is pleasant and healthy;
• the opening view from the window allows you to appreciate the surrounding landscape or city landscape;
• a feeling of free space, as well as a feeling of closeness and unity with the natural environment. In modern conditions, our opportunities to be in nature are often very limited - nevertheless, thanks to full-length windows, you can track the slightest changes in weather conditions through glass walls and enjoy the view from the window without leaving the room.

Before installing panoramic windows, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons, since, in addition to the undoubted advantages listed above, it can entail some important points and problems that need to be addressed. Panoramic glazing is widespread mainly in southern countries - however, in our latitudes, in the presence of a much more severe climate, for a long time the average daily temperature can be several tens of degrees lower. In this case, heat losses through large windows can be very noticeable. Even the most modern high-tech double-glazed windows can hardly be compared with an ordinary wall. Thus, it is worth considering that in order to maintain a comfortable microclimate in houses with panoramic windows, it will be necessary to use 20-30% more powerful heat sources.

In addition, the following points must be taken into account:

• it may be necessary to take additional security measures by installing a fence in the form of a lattice at least 50-60 cm high with frequent rods along the bottom of the window (this is especially true for families with small children). It is worth considering that it is not always allowed to install grilles on the outside on the facade of apartment buildings (so as not to spoil the general appearance of the building);
• in the case of frameless glazing, to ventilate the room, you will need to install special valves or equip a powerful ventilation system;
• in order to avoid freezing of glass with subsequent icing, it will be necessary to provide for heating windows or install a convector that blows glass in the cold season;
• for such transparent glasses of a large area, special maintenance will be required in the form of periodic washing from dust and rain drips. It is worth considering that in order to carry out these works, most likely, you will need professional skills, as well as tangible financial investments;
• in order to prevent the furniture and walls from burning out under the action of sunlight freely penetrating into the room, it will be necessary to provide protection from them - for this you can use curtains, shutters or blinds, as well as tinted glass;
• in addition, it is necessary to take care of the safety of property and take measures to protect the home from the penetration of robbers through the windows, since with panoramic glazing the likelihood of such an unpleasant incident increases. In private houses, it is most expedient to install panoramic windows in a gated community. In addition, in order to avoid problems, it may be necessary to install video surveillance, as well as equip an alarm system.

The design of panoramic windows

When planning the arrangement of a panoramic window, it is worth considering the following - it is required that its width exceeds half the width of the room, and the area is 10% of its total area. In order to select the most appropriate type of glazing materials, various factors must be considered, including:

• the desired shape and dimensions of future window openings;
• the location of the house relative to the cardinal points;
• climatic conditions in the area - expected wind and snow load, amount of precipitation;
• weight of materials for glazing and load on the foundation;
• overall style of the building.

Designing an individual design of panoramic windows, performing calculations and installation is recommended to be entrusted to professionals. These works are carried out by specialists of the design departments of companies that offer glazing services.

Since a large glazing area creates a significant load on the frame, to arrange a panoramic window, you will need to make accurate calculations and build a solid reinforced frame (at the same time, the frame should not weigh much and be too bulky).

For panoramic glazing, the following frame options are used:

• traditional hinged hinged (tilt-and-turn) designs, convenient for airing the room;
• sliding - frames made of durable glass composite or aluminum profile, folding when opened with an accordion and allowing you to fully open the window opening by sliding the glass to the side. It should be noted that these structures do not differ in high thermal insulation;
• folding (slide) frames that open like wardrobe doors - these designs provide high-quality thermal insulation of the room, as well as ease of ventilation. The disadvantages of sliding frames include rapid wear of seals;
• with lifting and sliding fittings - these systems provide a high level of tightness, sound and heat insulation. Such panoramic glazing frames are quite expensive.

In addition, frameless structures are used for panoramic glazing, in which glass sheets are connected with a sealant. Such glazing is characterized by low thermal insulation properties, so it is hardly suitable for residential premises. Mostly frameless panoramic windows are installed on balconies, loggias or verandas.

Materials for the manufacture of panoramic windows

For the manufacture of profile panoramic window systems, the following are used:

• various types of metal that can resist corrosion - steel, as well as aluminum alloys with special additives to give the profile additional strength. Aluminum profile systems with reinforced polyamide inserts are characterized by high strength and low weight. Such frames look very impressive, they are widely used for decorating panoramic windows in a modern style. It should be noted that steel profile systems are quite expensive. In addition, metal structures are cold to the touch;
• hardwood treated with special antiseptic compounds to protect against insects, as well as from damage and deformation under the influence of precipitation. For profile structures, as a rule, a three-layer glued beam is used. It should be noted that for panoramic glazing it is necessary to use a wooden frame with a thickness of at least 78 mm;
• PVC (plastic) - these structures, reinforced with hollow metal tabs a few millimeters thick, are the most economical and quite durable;
• combined structures, consisting of wood in combination with aluminum overlays, which serve as protection against adverse weather conditions;
• glass composite is a modern durable material, which in terms of its thermal insulation characteristics is not inferior to natural wood. Profile structures made of it are somewhat more expensive than plastic ones, in addition, they cannot be used for arched windows.

For the design of panoramic windows, tempered glass is used, which undergoes special processing for strengthening, as well as with a special coating or reinforcing film, reflective and tinted for sun protection, laminated (triplex) and energy-saving (in order to minimize heat loss, panoramic windows are equipped with one - or two-chamber double-glazed windows filled with an inert gas).

Design of panoramic windows

If you are interested in the opportunity to install panoramic windows, it is recommended to take into account that such glazing is most appropriate in the places where it is planned by the project - in modern new buildings, private houses, apartments with a large area. In such cases, panoramic windows harmoniously fit into the overall architectural style of the building and look quite harmoniously on the facade of the building.

It is convenient to contemplate the continuously changing picture outside the window through a full-wall window. A transparent glass wall in any interior looks very stylish, expanding the enclosed space and literally attracting the eye. Such a window may well become the central detail of the interior of the room. As a rule, glazing of most of the wall area is chosen by purposeful people who seek to emphasize that their housing belongs to an elite group. Having designed it in this way, through the panoramic windows of the city penthouse it will be possible to view the unfolded panorama of the city, in a country house - to admire the peaceful landscape.

Popular options for panoramic glazing

There are various ways of panoramic glazing - for example, in this way you can glaze the entrance group of a house, a loggia, part of a wall or its entirety, from the floor or starting from a height of about 50 cm from it, in bay windows or on flat walls. Panoramic glazing of the attic can act as a very original solution.

The most popular are the following ways of designing the design of panoramic windows:

• in spacious rooms, full-height panoramic windows can occupy one or more walls. Often, such glazing is combined with a door to the courtyard, terrace or veranda. If ceilings between floors are not provided, a room with high ceilings is formed, including a staircase to the second floor - while large-format glazing will help to get maximum illumination and a beautiful view. It is worth considering that in order to avoid heat losses in such cases, it will be necessary to provide for significant heating costs;

• sometimes a panoramic window is arranged near a recreation area or a dining area - in this case, a beautiful landscape outside the window will help to fully relax. In addition, thanks to natural light, it will be possible to do without additional lighting during a not too late dinner;

• in bay windows, as well as on flat walls, panoramic windows are installed at a height of 40-50 cm from the floor. In such cases, if you decorate a window opening, the view from the window will resemble a picture in a frame. In a small room next to it, it will be possible to equip comfortable shelves, cabinets, as well as a couch. If you install a panoramic window in the kitchen at a height of about 80 cm, then tables and cabinets of the working kitchen area, or a sofa, will conveniently fit under it. In this case, the furniture near the window will not be visible from the street;

• the opening of the panoramic window can also be made raised to a considerable height. Narrow (tape) horizontal or vertical window openings will allow you to organize a panoramic view of the room due to the relatively small area of ​​​​glazing. This technique can be used, among other things, in rooms densely packed with furniture - for example, in the kitchen, outward-opening or blind panoramic windows can be placed in any area (including above or below hanging cabinets). Several adjacent vertical windows can be installed as a replacement for a large panoramic window;
• panoramic false windows are sometimes installed if the surrounding area does not have a beautiful landscape. In such cases, they are arranged in the form of illuminated panels, on which canvases with printed drawings in the form of landscapes are fixed, imitating the view from the window;

• with the help of corner panoramic glazing with window openings located at any height from the floor, it is easy to create a feeling of special spaciousness in the room. In this case, windows can be located immediately from the floor or at a certain height.

Depending on specific purposes, different glazing designs can be combined in one room, combining different forms of sashes, including original (polygonal, arched, etc.), transparent, tinted and false windows. In this way, it is possible to regulate the illumination of specific areas of the room and, if necessary, ensure the privacy of individual corners of the room when viewed from the outside.

Panoramic windows - photo