It is sometimes a fine line where light is wanted and view is not. Sometimes the view out is wanted when the view in is not. I feel natural light is primary and view is a very close secondary. It amazes me when designers do not take advantage of natural light in a space.

Natural ventilation is something to consider also.

I think this 100% depends on the view - I probably won't put a bunch of windows facing away from a beach just because the beach is on the north side of a house - but for regular old no-one's-taking-a-picture-of-that, not-ansel-adams views, definitely light.

I'm a natural light person, for sure.

I want windows even when the "view" is my neighbor's windowless, doorless, vegetationless 2-story brick wall that's 24 feet away. I gotta have sunshine, even if it's barely there.

When I'm looking at lots to build on, I'm not looking for views; I'm looking for orientation, shape, and size. I figure I can create my own views (can't have bodies of water, at all, due to kids' special needs; can't have mountains, because "everything's bigger in Texas" doesn't apply to topography, lol), but I can't create my own sunshine. :-D

The light provided by windows can be appreciated at all times while doing different activities. My master bedroom is upstairs and one of the windows faces south with great mountain views, but I am hardly ever in the bedroom during the day to appreciate that view. I have a large double window in my laundry room with no real view, but I would not want a small window or no window in that space. If a view was really terrible then I would consider a frosted window to still be able to get some natural light in space/room.

I am very definitely view! Having had really limited views for years, I so appreciate the views in my house now. Our lot slopes towards the back (north) and a creek. I have large windows out the back in both my great room and master. I feel like I am living in the treetops and love looking down at the creek. It gives me a peace and feeling of being in the moment that I never had before. On the other hand, our master also has eastern windows and I leave the blinds partially open because I do love being waked by the eastern light. These windows also have a great up canyon Mountain View and as soon as I am up and dressed, I raise the blinds fully to get that view as well.

Gosh that is tough! I love light but part of why we bought our property was for views. However the views come with a caveat - privacy is the most important of all. In my current temporary residence we have very inadequate windows AND they look right out onto the cul de sac, complete with a creepy neighbor who likes to sit on his second floor porch and watch us through the windows during the day. I hate it so much. But thats how I know light is more important to me, I can’t justify just dropping the front blinds permanently for the sake of privacy. I need the light so much.

The views are what I am aiming a few key windows at in our next place, like the kitchen and dining room, library, etc. but most of the windows are really to serve the cause of light and privacy, probably including a row of clerestory windows in the main living space To maximize that light to privacy ratio.

I chose view, because views come with light, so you get a 2 for 1! Also, I could not imagine having a window that looks out onto brick wall. I'm not a city person. And I don't like neighbors so close they can see in my house. Just this morning I was looking out my window and saw a close view of a monarch butterfly land on the flowers below the window. That made my morning! Seeing nature inspires me every day.

I am a view person, but have never been lucky enough to live anywhere with good ones.

Hoping that in 7 years or so we can buy a place like this (https://youtu.be/PpvB8pTl3Q8), renovate it, and settle down for the long term.

Nature isn't the only view! But we did cut the window sizes by half in our newest building plan.

There's only so much of your neighbour's backyard parties you need to see.

There's only so much of your neighbour's backyard parties you need to see.

Talk about giving husbands strong incentive to increase the sizes of the windows all over the house! ;-)

Haha Worthy you made me laugh!

It really depends on each situation. It depends on what the view is and how much you need natural lighting. This is something each designer should take into consideration when siting a house and placing windows. I have seen a few lake houses where the designer obviously didn't even think about having and highlighting gorgeous views. That is a sad thing to see.