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| Italianate Style Victorians |
"When they have a choice, people will always gravitate to those rooms which have light on two sides, and leave the rooms which are lit only from one side unused and empty." When I first read Christopher Alexander, in A Pattern Language articulating the importance of light coming from more then one direction in a room, I was so struck by the truth of this observation.
Studying biogeography and working as a botanist continually impressed upon me the importance of aspect, or exposure, ie which direction the location faces to receive the changing angles of light of the day and the year.
I remain a little obsessed with light, and as a realtor I see the effects of exposure and fenestration on the quality and livability of rooms everyday.
As I've rambled on about on several occasions, sunlight moves around during the day, and the light from the different directions has different qualities. Bay windows allow for light to come from more directions, as the windows in them face different directions then a flat window, considerably enlivening interiors.
In San Francisco, where there are relatively few freestanding homes, bay windows allow for light to come from more then one direction in buildings that are adjacent to each other and blocking each others light. Bay windows also open up views up and down the street that are not visible from a flat window, and generally help a room feel more spacious.
Plus, they are gorgeous.
P.S.
Note that the middle lower window is really just a pop out window, not actually a bay window as I am describing them. While these are also lovely, and provide some variety on the face of the building, the sides do not have window panes and not allow for light or views down the street.
I remain a little obsessed with light, and as a realtor I see the effects of exposure and fenestration on the quality and livability of rooms everyday.
As I've rambled on about on several occasions, sunlight moves around during the day, and the light from the different directions has different qualities. Bay windows allow for light to come from more directions, as the windows in them face different directions then a flat window, considerably enlivening interiors.
In San Francisco, where there are relatively few freestanding homes, bay windows allow for light to come from more then one direction in buildings that are adjacent to each other and blocking each others light. Bay windows also open up views up and down the street that are not visible from a flat window, and generally help a room feel more spacious.
Plus, they are gorgeous.
P.S.
Note that the middle lower window is really just a pop out window, not actually a bay window as I am describing them. While these are also lovely, and provide some variety on the face of the building, the sides do not have window panes and not allow for light or views down the street.
