7.29.USA-7-detail-c transom windows Highlights Relevant to Sustainable Design:
Natural light over doors seems like an obvious advantage.
The glass rectangle over the door at the center of this sketch is a transom. In many cases, the transom windows are designed so that they are high and narrow enough that they do not pose a security threat. Free light from the sun is certainly more cost-effective than any energy-saving LED light every time. Our front door has the upper-level glass panes, and during the day, we do not need to turn on the lights in the foyer. Even though the front door is on the north side of the house, the sunlight coming through the earth’s atmosphere brings in plenty of light from the north to illuminate the entry. Indirect northern light is an underused asset for many homes.
Here is some added information on transom windows with perspective from Hungary – 6.37.Hungary-4-detail-h
We can rethink natural ventilation and shading.
This sketch includes the house on the right that belonged to one of my relatives, until it was taken over by the Soviets and turned into a retirement home. In previous sketchbook excerpt notes, I have described and illustrated windows that have transoms (windows over windows), and this is another example. The window detail to the left of the façade highlights a double thick wall and pull chord on the right side to extend and retract the shading devise. Overall, using light intelligently has become a fascination that attracted me to the light-emitting diode (LED) technology and all of its energy-saving potential. Plus, “light harvesting” capabilities recently caught my attention, given available dimming and photo cells that adjust with the balance of available natural light in any given season, month, day, and time of day.
Author and illustrator: Charlie Szoradi is an architect, inventor, and the CEO of Independence LED Lighting. He writes about many other topics related to transom windows through his extensive travels around the world.
If you have found this posting online, it is an excerpt from Mr. Szoradi’s book Learn from Looking that served as the inspiring seed content for this drawing share resource. For additional drawings and insights on transom windows and natural light, we hope that you enjoy exploring LearnfromLooking.com. You can search via general terms such as sustainability as well as narrower terms such as transom windows and northern light.
