Window View Quality: Why It Matters and What We Should Do

Window views that provide visual connections to the outdoors have been shown to have multiple positive effects on occupants (Heschong 2021). These effects include improved health, well-being (Beute and de Kort 2014), emotion (Ko et al. 2020), cognitive performance (Boubekri et al. 2020; Jamrozik et al. 2019; Ko et al. 2020), environmental satisfaction (Yildirim et al. 2007), reduced discomfort (Aries et al. 2010) and stress recovery (Ulrich 1984). A good window view may also increase the economic value of buildings (Baranzini and Schaerer 2011; Damigos and Anyfantis 2011; Turan et al. 2021). Even though many benefits from window views have been recognized, there are few design guidelines for assessing window view quality (CEN/TC 169, CEN/TC 169 2018; IWBI 2020; USGBC 2019). Moreover, the proposed approaches are not often supported by comprehensive and conclusive research findings. Although existing research has attempted to evaluate window view quality using a variety of assessment methods (Hellinga and Hordijk 2014; Li and Samuelson 2020; Mardaljevic 2019; Matusiak and Klöckner 2016; Turan et al. 2021), there is little alignment between methodologies and each of these studies only partially addresses the complex relationships between windows, outdoor and indoor conditions, and occupants (Ko et al. 2021; Waczynska et al. 2020). We lack consensus on a unified definition for window view quality that is applicable across occupancies and building types. In addition, while this is a topic of growing interest, there is limited research underway due to its complex nature, insufficient funding, and a lack of coordinated effort to move the field forward. In response to these problems, some of the authors of this editorial participated in a workshop on window view quality on October 28, 2021 at the University of California, Berkeley, which was complementary to a Virtual Symposium on Research and Design Practice Related to Window Views (“Symposium on Research and Design Practice Related to Window Views” 2021). This position statement started to take shape during this workshop. The symposium aimed to enhance interest and understanding among stakeholders regarding the benefits, complexities, and assessment methods for window views. The workshop aimed to engage the building science and design communities in this growing field, reach a consensus on the primary components of window view quality, and identify research gaps in current view assessment methods.