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Windows do so much more than just bring-in light, and often provide a key opportunity to add character and visual interest to facades and buildings.

This guidance sets out the key design outcomes that should be delivered when considering the types of window and their detailing for all buildings within Ebbsfleet. Applicants should demonstrate how their scheme meets the following design objectives.

Design outcomes

1. Daylighting, ventilation and overheating : Windows should be located, sized and detailed to balance the need for generous daylighting and ventilation to maximise health and wellbeing with a passive design approach thats manage solar gain in the summer, and enables it in the winter.

2. Appearance: The materials, colour, shape and detailing of a window should reflect the building’s design narrative, and contribute to the distinctive identity of the building within the street.

3. Proportion and positioning: The size and proportion, placement and grouping of windows should be informed by the design narrative.

4. Activation of the street: Windows should be located to provide activation and passive surveillance to adjacent streets and public spaces.

1. Daylighting, ventilation and overheating

The design and orientation of windows should respond to the environmental factors to mange solar gain and overheating and provide adequate lighting.

Guidance:

• Avoid fixed (unopenable) windows, fenestration should be designed to maximise openable areas.

• Minimise heat loss and provide sufficient solar heat gain by considering the proportions and the orientations of the windows. North facing elevations shuld have smaller windows, whilst south facing should have larger windows.

• The use of shading can significantly reduce the risk of overheating. Using features such as brise soleil, stacked balconies, deep reveals, or moveable shading including shutters, louvers or internal curtains, blinds (which should not be relied on exclusively.

2. Appearance

All parts of the window (sills, mullions, muntins, cheeks etc) must reflect the building’s design narrative, and contribute to the distinctive identity of the building within the street.

Window appearance including the materials, depth, colour, shape, and detailing need to be high quality and well related to the overall design concept and architectural language.

Windows which need to be smaller (e.g. to minimise heat loss) can appear un generous. Using architectural features such as textured panels can help windows appear larger.

Articulated Openings

Oriel Windows

Feature Windows

3. Proportion and positioning

The size and proportion, placement and grouping of windows should be informed by the design narrative.

Guidance:

Windows should be in keeping and informed by the architectural language and design narrative of the building. Other fenestration of the building (dormers, door, balconies etc) need to be considered.

Features around the window to group, frame, accentuate.

4. Activation on the street

• Building frontages should have windows facing public spaces.

• Placing windows onto street frontages helps to increase the presession of safety by allowing for natural surveillance over public spaces and discouraging anti-social behaviour.

• Windowless elevations, exposed under croft car and cycle parking should be avoided.

• Corners of streets should avoid having a blank frontage. Visual links should be created to open/public spaces.

• Issues surrounding overlooking and privacy can be mitigated by offsetting windows whilst maximizing light, visual interest in and out and activating the facade.