Sky windows are made for people who want more light and loads of privacy | Canada Voices

Inside-outside connections are a much-beloved part of modern design. Many people want to sit, gaze out and enjoy the beauty of the nature around them, without the risk of bugs, rain or an unexpected conversation with an unfriendly neighbour. What better place to do that than inside a home office or living room.

These days, however, designers are exploring new ways to create that connection – without some of the usual drawbacks. Large windows, for example, can compromise privacy (your neighbour can still tell you’re home and might just ring the bell).

One increasingly popular option is sky windows – high-up, wall-mounted panes of glass that frame views of treetops and sky. But do these elevated openings actually bring the great outdoors in, or do they just make the people staring up at them feel unnecessarily short?

What are sky windows?

As the name suggests, sky windows are positioned high on a vertical wall – usually near the ceiling – designed to let in natural light and offer glimpses of clouds, moonlight and stars, without exposing views of nearby buildings or neighbours.

“A tall window high up will let the sun come in,” says Montreal architect Paul Bernier, who has used the design element in several projects. “They’re a good way to get the light without getting the view you don’t want.”

For example, he used one in a house in Quebec’s Eastern Townships to carefully block the sight lines of an adjacent home.

On a house in Toronto, architect Jodi Batay-Csorba, partner at Batay-Csorba Architects, added a sky window in an office. The glass starts just above head height and soars another 15 feet upward. “The homeowner primarily works from home in the morning,” she explains. “The window faces east, so it gets beautiful morning light without compromising any privacy.”

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How do they differ from skylights?

“It’s not that I never use skylights,” says Bernier. “But skylights can be a problem because they often let in too much sun. If they lie horizontally on a flat roof, they’re essentially exposed to direct sunlight all day, which can make for a very hot interior environment.”

There’s also a long-standing joke in the construction industry: There are two types of skylights – those that leak and those that will leak. While Bernier notes that skylight technology has become more leak-proof in recent decades, and Batay-Csorba adds that she “has never had a skylight leak,” other concerns remain.

“Condensation can build up in skylights and cause mould,” says Bernier. Proper installation can help avoid that.

Are there any benefits to sky windows?

Yes – and they go beyond design. There are numerous potential health benefits, according to Tye Farrow, an architect and author of the bestselling book Constructing Health, a deep dive into the relationship between architecture and well-being.

Farrow explains that sky windows, skylights and other forms of daylight access can enhance human health by nourishing the mitochondria in our cells. “Sunlight includes the near-infrared light spectrum, which lighting like LEDs doesn’t provide,” he says. “There’s a reason people prefer working by a window at home rather than in a cubicle with no sun.”

He adds that there are mental-health benefits as well: “Exposure to natural light and views of nature – even partial or symbolic, like a painting – helps reduce stress and increase calm. Seeing moonlight, clouds or treetops through a window is grounding. It enhances our sense of time and place.”

In a house he designed in downtown Toronto, a place that doesn’t always feel natural, Farrow used both sky windows and skylights to frame views of nearby treetops. “It really emphasizes that nature is everywhere,” he says.

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Anything else?

Aside from the wellness aspect, sky windows offer architectural flexibility. “Contemporary houses often have big windows,” says Bernier. “With windows higher up, you can also have walls” – a practical benefit for furniture layout and storage.

So all someone has to do is put a window above head height?

Sort of – but thoughtful design makes all the difference.

Batay-Csorba installed a mechanical roller blind in a discreet pocket at the top of her 15-foot sky window to provide shade when needed. It’s also triple-glazed to minimize heat loss in winter and prevent overheating in summer.

Bernier often includes light-enhancing elements, such as mirrors or white surfaces, around his sky windows to bounce light deeper into a space. “I once designed a glass floor to bring morning light into a kitchen below,” he recalls.

What about the cost?

It doesn’t have to be ridiculously expensive. A custom 15-foot-tall window with motorized blinds or a glass floor will certainly cost a lot. But there are budget-friendly alternatives.

However, Farrow notes that standard windows and skylights “are not expensive and provide high impact in terms of their benefits,” he says. “There are also solar tubes, which, while they don’t bring in any views, bring in the very important natural light, which is fundamental to our health.”

Solar tubes, or tubular skylights, are like ducts for light, tunnelling through a wall or ceiling to the roof to bring in a bit of sun. The light glows through a diffuser panel, so the tubes don’t provide views. But they aren’t expensive, costing from $400 to $600 at major retailers such as Home Depot.

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But unless you’re a giant, what about opening these windows? Or wiping them down?

These are common concerns. According to Bernier, “If you can’t reach the window, it’s possible to use motorized versions that open with a switch.”

In terms of cleaning, Bernier says: “There are ways. It’s always possible to get a long squeegee.”

So over all – what’s the verdict?

Install a sky window if you want a private, light-filled connection to nature and don’t mind occasionally explaining what a sky window is to curious guests.

Skip it if you’re not interested in craning your neck to check the weather or cleaning windows with an extendable pole.