For a good quality window in the neighborhood of 20k probably a few more.

"Will this huge window blow our budget?"

We don't know, as we know nothing about your finances and/or your budget.

This is a cute storybook home abstraction.
I do not think they are operable windows. They look like 6 picture windows with mullions which are a lot cheaper than regular operable windows.
The question is, do you need the one(s) on top to be operable for egreess purpose?

Windows are all over the place in price.

I'll just mention one example. We were building at the beach and wanted a huge window wall. We went with 6x6 flanked with 2 4x6 all with transoms. The total window area was something like 14x7 feet. The total cost was $1800 - vinyl impact windows. Without the impact rating, the cost would have been closer to $1000. With out impact or transoms, it would have been $600.

So on the lowest of low end a fixed 14x6 feet of window is $600. Now - you can obviously do more than 30 times that.

That is why details matter so much. If you are doing Anderson windows, aluminum clad, SDLs, the cost is much higher. I still think $20k is a bit high but $10k+ would not be surprising. SDLs up the cost dramatically and by your wording that is what you want - "many small windows". I say dramatic but maybe $1 or $2k for this window.

So which is it - basic vinyl or top of the line fiberglass or aluminum clad? And is your budget for windows $10k or $40k?

I will say that depending on wind zone, this wall may represent an engineering headache for the builder (although that is a pretty weak reason for him to discourage it). It isn't a headache so much as just really needs a little extra wood around it.

Depending on jurisdiction, you may have issues with energy use and such a large window.

Can't answer your question, but just gotta say.....I love, love that Black Forest story book look! So charming!!

Don't forget that the cost of window treatments for such a large window would also be expensive.

90 small lites that for that look need to be either simulated divided (SDL) or true divided (TDL) will add a lot to the cost as well as the cost for the steel reinforcing fro the mullions. I still stand by my questimate for a high quality wood or wood clad product like Marvin or Kolbe.

I don't know-it's a great looking window, but my first thought was what a pain to wash(guess what we've been doing this weekend ;))

I agree that the exterior of the house looks cool, but I think such a big window and high ceilings in such a small house is going to be awkwardly out of scale inside.

And then you add in the other practical considerations-- cleaning, buying window treatments, solar heating/fading in the summer...

I think I'd be inclined to take your builder's advice and move on to another idea.

Thanks everyone. I should have mentioned more particulars. The neighborhood requires aluminum clad, wood, or fiberglass windows. we will be using aluminum clad. Is that what you think the windows are?

The foyer with the staircase is the interior room that contains the large window. I agree that such a large window on the inside is a little awkward, but it really makes the outside.

We are in South Louisiana and the front of the house faces South.

My guess was 6000 for the windows alone because each aluminum clad window will run about 700, right? What I have no idea about is how big of a deal/ cost it would be to frame them. They would not need to be working windows.

They may be aluminum clad or just wood, but I do believe the SDL's will cost you 6K and double that if you go to TDL's. Plus the windows themselves if you use a quality product as I mentioned. You may want to post this in the window section as well as there are great windows pro's in that forum.

That much glass facing due south in the South is a nightmare for your HVAC system. It will add a huge heat load in the summer. The whole double height entry with glass will probably need it's own zone and dedicated recirculation system in order to not cook you to death. Although, with current building regulations, it might not even actually be allowable as it is so energy inefficient.

Good point green design. Thanks everyone

Yes it is and I was remiss in not bringing up the same point in retrospect but I guess that is because my experience is in supplying these after the that process is finished.

Would you consider double windows similar to the dormer on the left? One double window at each level.
If all you have there is the stairs, and this is southfacing, the big window does not make sense.
Is that a tiny dormer on the right? I'd get rid of that.

Could you post the floor plans?

The cost of one expensive element is not usually a deal breaker but expensive multiple repeating elements can be.

I would be more concerned with energy conservation and what kind of space such a window would serve effectively. In other words, consider the whole house design not just the front facade.