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How Do I... Boost Light and Airflow in My Home?
Step inside a bright, well-ventilated home and your spirits will lift – here's how to capture these important elements
In this practical series, we ask experts to answer your burning home and design questions. Here, architect Matt Day, director at Sydney-based firm Day Bukh Architects, shares design secrets for maximising the flow of natural light and fresh air into your home.
How to maximise light and fresh air
- Include raked ceilings that draw more of the sky into your home through highlight glazing (clerestory windows).
- Add full-width, glazed sliding doors in your living area to open the whole area to the outside (this effectively makes the living room feel like a verandah).
- If the design allows it, place operable windows diagonally opposite each other to create a difference in air pressure that encourages airflow, even on still days.
- Consider adding glass louvres that can be opened up to bring fresh air into the room.
- Position windows in the direction of the cool summer breezes.
- Install shading devices such as timber battens or metal louvres to help regulate the amount of light that enters your interior and control glare.
Create a green outlook
Looking upon greenery – whether it’s a garden outside or some indoor plants – helps dissolve the boundary between the two areas, making your home feel more open and inviting.
In warmer environments, consider adding a pond in the garden adjacent to your living areas to draw in cooling breezes.
Looking upon greenery – whether it’s a garden outside or some indoor plants – helps dissolve the boundary between the two areas, making your home feel more open and inviting.
In warmer environments, consider adding a pond in the garden adjacent to your living areas to draw in cooling breezes.
Smart glazing strategies
Glass is a poor insulator; it lets a considerable amount of warmth in and out of your home. So it’s important to get the positioning and amount of windows right in your home.
In winter, you’ll need the northern light to keep the house warm, so aim to maximise glazing in this direction with your greatest expanses of glass. Just be sure to include adequate shading devices to block out the harsh summer sun.
To the south, where there is no heat gain from the sun, install smaller and fewer windows to avoid heat loss.
To the east and west, the sun is low in the sky year-round, which makes shading difficult. Limit glazing to the east with smaller windows. Try to avoid glazing to the west in order to avoid overheating the home in summer.
Glass is a poor insulator; it lets a considerable amount of warmth in and out of your home. So it’s important to get the positioning and amount of windows right in your home.
In winter, you’ll need the northern light to keep the house warm, so aim to maximise glazing in this direction with your greatest expanses of glass. Just be sure to include adequate shading devices to block out the harsh summer sun.
To the south, where there is no heat gain from the sun, install smaller and fewer windows to avoid heat loss.
To the east and west, the sun is low in the sky year-round, which makes shading difficult. Limit glazing to the east with smaller windows. Try to avoid glazing to the west in order to avoid overheating the home in summer.
Choose light-enhancing materials and colours
Materials are made up of different colours, textures and densities, and these qualities affect our perception of light, airflow, warmth and how comfortable a space feels.
Pale-toned walls reflect the natural light in a space, giving a sense of spaciousness. Timber adds warmth; it has a natural appeal and is a good insulator. Recycled brick adds visual depth to your home, particularly when the light hits its surface; plus it has good thermal mass, which means that it helps naturally regulate the internal temperature of your home.
Materials are made up of different colours, textures and densities, and these qualities affect our perception of light, airflow, warmth and how comfortable a space feels.
Pale-toned walls reflect the natural light in a space, giving a sense of spaciousness. Timber adds warmth; it has a natural appeal and is a good insulator. Recycled brick adds visual depth to your home, particularly when the light hits its surface; plus it has good thermal mass, which means that it helps naturally regulate the internal temperature of your home.
… and another thing
Don’t forget to pay attention to the acoustics of a room, which are largely determined by the building materials you choose. If you choose to build with brick or concrete, for example, be sure to use timber, fabric curtains, and plenty of soft furnishings to soften ambient sound.
Don’t forget to pay attention to the acoustics of a room, which are largely determined by the building materials you choose. If you choose to build with brick or concrete, for example, be sure to use timber, fabric curtains, and plenty of soft furnishings to soften ambient sound.
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Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like or share this story and save the photos. Join the conversation.
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Find an architect near you
So if you’re planning a new build or renovation, now’s the time to think about how to capture the best of them.