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Sliding Walls Bring the Outside In
Disappearing walls erase the line between you and the view
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City. I have Bachelor of Architecture and Master in Urban Planning degrees, and over ten years experience in architectural practice, split between Chicago and NYC. Currently I'm focused on writing and online pursuits. My daily blog can be found at http://archidose.blogspot.com
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City.... More »
'Tis the season for spending time outside. Backyards, terraces, pools, and other outdoor spaces become great amenities when the weather is warm. But why stop there? Why not bring the outdoors inside? The following houses incorporate sliding glass walls that connect inside and outside, typically living areas and patios. Appropriately each house is illustrated from the exterior and the interior.
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This house of white cubic volumes includes a living space with a large glass wall that slides open to a grassy area beyond. As well a terrace and seating area is visible at right. It's also apparent that the opening turns the corner ...
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... And the reason for the glass wrapping the corner is abundantly clear: what a gorgeous view! The sliding wall opens to the room to the grassy plane, but it also brings in the clean ocean air.
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Half of this large glass wall slides open to connect the large living-dining area to the patio outside. The glass wall is articulated with a horizontal mullion and two smaller lights at the base, making the assembly appear fixed.
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| Looking from the inside, we find another stunning view, this one closer than the previous example but no less dramatic. This lush landscape is carefully framed by the large opening, and its smells and sounds can be brought inside, making dinner special. |
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Here the sliding wall between inside and outside sits adjacent to a lap pool inserted into a yard between the house and the fence. The steel armature supports retractable shades that soften the light hitting the pool and the interior.
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| From inside these orange shades also help frame the landscaping just beyond the pool. The ability to take two steps beyond the opening in the wall into the pool is quite appealing. |
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by Ian Engberg
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| Here is another sliding wall adjacent to a pool, also separated by the slimmest of a walkway. As shown here the opening is large, since two panels are slid open. |
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by Ian Engberg
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| From inside it's apparent that the other side of the living-dining area also features sliding glass walls. Such large openings mean cross ventilation is easily accomplished. |
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| Like the first example in this ideabook, this house features a corner opening. In this case the whole family room opens to the pool and deck outside. |
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| The seating area inside is like an alternative to the seating outside: shade rather than sunny, dry rather than wet. Nevertheless, the view is the same. |
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| These last two examples incorporate sliding walls into upper-level spaces, connecting living spaces and balconies. One whole wall of this living room opens to a generous balcony overlooking San Francisco Bay. |
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| The view from inside perfectly frames the bridge in the distance. The disappearing wall enables the whole view to come inside, while giving easy access to the outdoor space that allows a larger vista. |
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This house in Australia similarly connects a living area to a balcony, but on a slightly smaller scale. Nevertheless looking from the inside ...
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| ... it's clear that dramatic vistas also link these last two projects. (Note that each house incorporates glass guardrails so the views aren't obstructed.) The louvered windows around the opening make the view that much stronger, and draw people out onto the balcony. More: Design Details: Windows That Frame a View Daring Cantilevers: Architecture Takes Flight Stunning Corner Windows |
Ideabook updated on Nov. 19, 2012.
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Thanks for another lesson in architecture using the most stunning of modern eye candy found on Houzz. I learn at least a little something and get enjoyment from reading each one. Please keep them coming!
Regarding this post - If I were fortunate enough to own any one of these modern marvels I think I would enjoy the views via glass, lest bugs and other such critters infest my home. I've also wondered, when looking at homes that have sliding doors spanning the entire length of one of its sides, how much difficulty the owners have opening or closing them and whether or not it's time-consuming. Aren't these doors rather heavy being made of glass?
Without knowing the details, I'm guessing most of these sliding walls are hung from the top. Combined with quality hardware, this means the heavy doors are not hard to open and close. The track on the bottom keeps the doors in line and keep water from entering when the wall is in the closed position, but the header does most of the work.
We are so lucky to have a wonderful deck with a view of the river and forest. Right now we have two large windows and a standard aluminum frame sliding door leading to the deck. A sliding glass wall there would be perfect. We live near Portland, Oregon where the weather is so unpredictable and it can rain at any time, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is cold. It would be so nice to be able to sit under a roof and still feel like we are outside. Building a roof over the deck would cut down the light, so the sliding wall is a better solution -- albeit a crazy expensive one.
How lucky are those who own homes like the examples shown in this fine ideabook!
- Sally -
I was just looking at the other photos of your home and in the words of my 8 and 10 year olds, "No fair!!" haha
I don't know anything about your sliding glass doors, but here's what I do like:
-The view and Eames lounger, of course
-The patio (and wouldn't it look amazing surrounded in glass guard rails like in pics 12 and 14, keeping the views of the canyon and your landscaping) and sconces flanking the sliding door
-The stucco exterior
-All the gorgeous trees, especially the evergreen
Enjoy your beautiful home and good luck with your upgrades!
I have a large door (sadly, not as large as these examples) in my Kitchen and I love the way it opens the room to the outdoors. It helps to live in California where there is a mild climate and few bugs.
Exterior pocket doors, perhaps, offering views and open air, if desired, but closable when one wanted privacy or protection from the elements. Barn doors?
Hope you'll provide another article that depicts attractive "disappearing walls" that are more substantial as well. After all, years ago my parents' home had sliding glass doors leading to a patio-- and they definitely were not on the cutting edge of design or architecture.
sally436 - Take a look at NanaWall. I'm guessing more than a few of the above examples come from them.