Posted on 12/10/2023 6:08:38 AM PST by Jonty30
Exactly. You’d have room for a basketball or tennis court. Racquetball. Large outdoor patio.
Have you seen those scrims they use for advertising on buses? You can’t see into the bus but they still admit light (admittedly, reduced) and passengers can still see out.
Maybe something similar for bay and picture windows can be applied to thwart cameras from snooping inside. A silvery blue-grey scrim that fades from darker to lighter (or whatever you want) put over the panes. Still looks like a window but no one can see inside, folks can still look out, and light (with some reduction, unfortunately) still gets in.
Adjusting the size of the pinholes in the scrim to admit more light while still blocking the view inside. Draw the curtains or shades at night.
I think scrims are also sold as fabrics. Muslin is an example but that may be too dense. But you get the idea.
so do obscured skylights. next.
I have big picture windows. All are equipped with big drapes. Best of both worlds I should say.
To each his own. As for me, big picture windows are nice for many reasons. One of which is that they are good for the soul.
You do make a fair point about them being vulnerable to forced entry. If that’s a concern, consider an alarm that goes off when glass shatters. There’s also clear film you can put on a window. The film helps to keep the glass from shattering, and thus creating an opening.
Side note: They call this stuff “shatterproof”. I think it’s better called “shatter-resistant”.
https://www.amazon.com/shatterproof-window-film/s?k=shatterproof+window+film
Like that for underground or windowless rooms, have a few favorite live cam shots that change every couple of hours, Diamond Head, Pebble Beach, Eiffel Tower, Grand Canyon.
I think there is glass that darkens as the sunlight hits it. Though it may not darken all that much. But perhaps enough. Or just buy tinted glass. Could be an expensive option. I don’t know.
The fabric scrim would be a cheap test. Hang it from inside the home.
Natural light is a point. Eyes do need natural light, or it is more stressful to see things.
> HUGE data storage buildings are going up with no windows all over. <
No windows could be secrecy thing. Or it could be a goofy attempt to go green.
I live in an old house with many windows. About 10 years ago some guy built a house on the empty lot behind me. His house is bigger. Mine has more windows.
And one side of his house has no windows at all!
Then only explanation I can think of for this is that he did it to save on heating and cooling bills. As for me, I’d rather pay a bit more, and have lots of sunlight in my rooms.
Hialeah!
faux Windows work too. a neighbor has a two story with two tiny windows on one wall of the first floor and the giant wall space was UGLY! they had the contractor add some glass and trim on the ugly side and voila! now it was pretty. of course on the inside there were still no windows....But WHO CARES.
To your question: of course, if that’s what you want. Some homes have large windows at 6’ or higher to allow light to enter the room. Light entere and privacy maintained at the cost to a view.
But look up “scrim” on the internet. (Wikipedia has an article.) If you want light, a view, and some privacy without expense, a scrim of some sort may be the solution.
You found the rare ivory billed woodpecker! At the Flintstones house of all places!
That is neat I like it.
> My understanding of the building codes is that every room needs an egress for safety reasons. With most living rooms being beside the front door, I think regulation is met.
That is my also my understanding, with the caveat that egress rate may actually be a function in part of room capacity, which is related to the square footage of the room itself.
as for safety, if you are in a “nice” suburb, I have been told that most invaders will choose to kick in a front or side door. The next choice after that might be a rear door. If you use double paned windows throughout, this might deter the bad guy(s) somewhat. Home security might be greatly enhanced by replacing a flimsy wood side garage door (possibly with a window) with a metal surfaced door (with no window).
If the living room is occupied during a home invasion then don’t forget to consider the distribution of pew-pews throughout each room in relation to the expected path(s) taken by the bad guys to gain entrance.
What a stupid question and a stupid idea.
Sorry … it’s just that the idea of viewing a projected image instead of actual daylight just sounds … well … stupid.
You’d be hard pressed to sell a house with no windows....
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