Top Trends in Aluminium Window
Design for Modern Spaces
In contemporary architecture, if the aim is to achieve a space that feels and looks modern, more often than not aluminium is considered the go-to material for windows. If we look at glazing trends of recent years, aluminium windows have been perpetually popular, both in the private and public sectors – and, so far, 2023 seems to be no different.
One of the big reasons for this sustained popularity is its adaptability as a material, which has meant that it has been able to deliver on our modern efficiency criteria whilst maintaining its flexibility with regards to our changing aesthetic tastes.
So, even though aluminium windows have been a constant in the modern architectural landscape for well over a century now, the industry is far from growing stale; on the contrary, each new year brings with it new ideas, keeping the world of glazing innovative and fresh.
Here’s a rundown of the current aluminium window design trends, as noticed by our team of experts here at Mercury.
Minimalism: A Lesson in Less
There was a time when aluminium windows were associated with bulky, chunky designs, but those days are long gone. Recent times have seen the frames of aluminium windows become ever slimmer; often making them the most elegant and sleek frames available on the market.
This less-is-more approach works in today’s climate for several reasons: they’re lighter, and therefore easier to install; their production requires less in the way of raw materials; they create a more spacious feel to your home’s interior – and they look great too, of course.
Another core benefit of slimmed-down frames is that less aluminium equals better thermal performance, as glass is a more energy-efficient material than aluminium.
Colours
For the past few years, there has been a trend towards making window frames bright and colourful; and while this is still true, there is a growing demand for more neutral tones at the moment, particularly blacks and browns.
Black is seldom used as a prevailing colour in architecture, which makes it a perfect counterpoint for your window frames. Dark-coloured windows often become nearly invisible when combined with glass when viewed from the outside. Having such a clean and clear contrast enables the openings of your house to really stand out – with the added bonus of being a colour that complements all other shades and materials.
In keeping with this movement towards more traditional palettes, brown window frames have also seen a recent surge in demand. For fairly obvious reasons, they are the perfect choice for those who wish to bridge the gap between the functionality of contemporary design and the aesthetic associations of heritage pieces.
Size
One of the many ways in which aluminium has superiority over its competitors in the glazing industry is in the fact that the frames can be made much larger without compromising the window’s structural integrity. Floor-to-ceiling windows are a definite big-hitter for designers of modern-feeling properties and are the perfect solution for those who have a view they are keen to show off or for those whose main priority is to maximise the levels of natural light indoors.
Having larger windows may be more costly in the first instance, but they can sometimes also reduce utility bills and help create a more airy and spacious living area – food for thought for any home-improvement plan.
Shapes
Privacy
Designing a home is a process of contradictions and the windows exemplify this process perfectly. On the one hand, we want our properties to feel welcoming and open; on the other, we want them to feel separated from the outside world and for them to provide a place of privacy and security. Luckily, with modern glazing, you can easily achieve the best of both worlds.
Tinting and colouring on glass is one of the most effective ways of obscuring the view of your indoor spaces from outside. Modern iterations of this technology even allow natural light to filter through, meaning your privacy doesn’t equate to an increase in your utility bills.
Textures and patterns in the glass are another popular way of nullifying the potential of prying eyes. Texturing comes in all sorts of different configurations and adds a point of interest to your glazing design scheme.
Integrated Blinds
Automated Features
Sometimes, our instinct to incorporate modern technologies into as much as possible can seem a little excessive; in the case of windows, though, this evolution makes perfect sense.
Being able to control windows remotely not only offers control and convenience but peace of mind too – a truth that will be all-too familiar to those of us who have lost sleep over the possibility of leaving a window ajar.
It might seem strange to suggest that a feature powered by electricity might increase your window’s energy efficiency, but the ability to monitor them from anywhere means that you can ensure your home is always working to its optimal thermal efficiency. In the UK, where the weather can shift seasons in a day, more and more people are seeing the value of this kind of control.
Finishes and Effects
A Century of Modernity
It’s strange to think that a material can exist in the popular imagination for so long as something that evokes a sense of modernity, but aluminium has done exactly that. Gone are the days though when the trade-off for stylish aluminium window frames was condensation build-up and a cold room – modern aluminium glazing is truly a thermal marvel these days offering the same benefits of competing materials with the added style for which aluminium has always set the benchmark.
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VIEW PROJECTFrom sash windows to aluminium bifold doors, our high-quality products are engineered and manufactured right here in Britain. We work with fellow UK-operated companies, Spectus Window Systems, Smart Systems, and Jack Aluminium Systems, to deliver only the very best to our trade, commercial and residential customers.
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Our composite doors are designed to resist fading, even under prolonged sun exposure, thanks to their high-quality materials and construction.
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