For commercial properties, storefront windows offer owners the opportunity to entice guests to venture in. But modern storefront design does more than attract foot traffic. With large spans of glass and minimal framing profiles, storefront windows can optimize the amount of daylight within the built environment, maximize visual connection to a location and support energy efficient construction.
These benefits can elevate the design and functionality of a commercial property—whether it is a golf club, YETI’s flagship store, or any business in between.
While high-performance storefront windows support luxury designs in commercial spaces, they can also contribute similar benefits to residential construction by blurring the lines between a home’s interior and exterior.
What are storefront windows?
Designed as part of a commercial building’s façade, storefront windows are large windows generally installed on the ground floor. They were originally intended to display merchandise to passersby.
However, over time, the function and location of storefront windows evolved. No longer limited to the ground floor, these opening systems are integral in shaping the atmosphere of a building’s interior with natural daylight and views.
With this evolution, many architects and designers have seen their usefulness in luxury home design. Maximizing access to daylight and visual connection to a home’s surroundings, storefront windows can contribute to today’s in-demand designs.
More than just glass—the importance of framing
With larger-than-average windows, the glass often takes center stage—especially when it provides impact ratings that meet Florida Product Approvals and requirements for use in High Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ) like Miami-Dade County. But a storefront window's framing also has a significant impact on both its functionality and aesthetics.
Storefront windows with narrow profile framing systems can readily support modern commercial design with minimalist aesthetics and huge areas of glass. And when these frames are thermally broken, they can help buildings more efficiently maintain a comfortable interior temperature. For example, Vista CT™, a thermally broken casement window system from Euro-Wall, offers some of the largest sizes on the market—up to 120" tall and up to 52" wide available—while also minimizing heat transfer.
How modern storefront designs translate to luxury homes
Because storefront windows support daylighting and unobstructed views, both highly sought-after qualities in residential construction, architects have seen their value in expanding what is possible in home design, such as maximizing views of the surrounding landscape.
Euro-Wall’s Vista TL™ features edge-to-edge glass glazing with zero obstructed sightlines, which can essentially create a wall of transparent glass. Accommodating dimensions of up to 16-1/2 feet tall and wide for a single glass lite, this opening solution brightens interiors with natural daylight and expansive views—all without interruption from vertical framing.
For residential design, Vista TL allows architects to blend the home’s interior with its exterior like never before—giving homeowners an expansive view of what’s out there.
High-performance storefront windows open a world of possibility
While traditional window systems can support modern storefront design, it is important to note high-quality folding glass door systems can also allow a flexible, European-inspired storefront. Able to accommodate large opening sizes, Vista Fold™ offers a small horizontal footprint. This grants a high degree of flexibility to the built environment without compromising performance and functionality.
Able to meet the needs of many contemporary designs, premium opening solutions from Euro-Wall support a modern storefront design that can meet a wide range of project goals—from energy efficiency to weather resistance and more.
Ready to elevate your next design with American-made opening solutions? Request an estimate today!