I live in the northern hemisphere (Atlanta)

I live in NC.

Southern windows are great in the winter ... to a point. They work in the summer - with appropriate overhangs - which you won't have. There isn't anything that is remotely practical about a window that size on a wall that size - done by Toll Brothers.

What I mean is that you could have a window like that with a huge overhang and make it livable in the summer but Toll didn't design it that way. Toll is all about the bling and they design well to impress people.

Passive solar houses were done in the 70s with really large southern windows. The problem is that it gets too hot much of the time. They at least were designed to take advantage and had appropriate overhangs. But even still, it is too much of a good thing. And in Atlanta - crazy. I know we are coming up on a cool weekend but September can still be wicked hot. Even with good overhangs, some of our southern sun comes in during September. Reminder - Sun is highest in June and then starts coming down so that by September it is fairly low - and in fact average in a few days.

We designed our overhangs on our southern windows to allow about 40% of September sun in which still allows 40% of March sun in.

So I guess I would vote North. But my real choice is NOTA. 2 story rooms are about the bling. I have had them and I would never do it again. And that size North window is a huge heat loss in the winter. That room will feel cold in the winter - between the loss and the height.

I would echo what David Cary says, and I live in Michigan.

I lived in a 1970s south-facing ranch condo with 4' roof overhangs and 8' ceilings. The south-facing rooms had windows that were DR 5' wide, LR 8' w doorwall, and MBR 5' wide. In the winter, the sun coming in was so bright that I moved the furniture to the non-window end of the LR so I could read without the glare affecting me, since I didn't want to keep the drapes drawn.

We now live in an extremely well-built energy efficient home with 9' ceilings, no rooms open to the second floor, and 5' tall triple casement windows on all sides. Without going into more details about the rooms and windows, let me just say that I can feel that it's colder when I'm sitting closer to the window sides of the rooms, although my husband says I'm wrong and that the temperature is the same throughout.

Anne

A bad plan is one thing, but a bad tract home plan is the absolute worst. That’s a ridiculous window no matter where you put it. It will cost you in ways you cannot even begin to imagine.

Thank you everybody for your detailed suggestions. I really appreciate that.

Energy costs is one topic, while being able to use the room comfortably is another topic.

If i am willing to pay the energy costs, and looking for suggestions on usability of the room, what would be your choice?

North facing:

Pros: No direct light, so the room will be consistently bright in all seasons

Cons: 1. Can feel cold in the winter 2. You will miss the feeling of light falling in your room

South facing:

Pros: Very bright. Direct light in room. Heating benefits in winter.

Cons: Light can fall on your face in colder months through out the day. Cannot watch TV in that room.

And ofcourse suggestions toward energy costs are welcome.

Also there is another window design available. I am assuming, all the problems related to energy are applicable to this other window design as well.

I have a 2 story great room that faces east. I enjoy the morning sun, the day sun doesn't pour in and I avoid the western sun so I can use the room for reading / TV watching. For me - it makes sense. North facing would be "okay" but you really don't get any "steaming" sun at all and it can be rather dull when trying to showcase a window wall, IMO.

For example - right now - at 11:20 AM, it's coming about 6 feet into the room as the sun moves around to the south end of the house. It also never getS oppressively hot. (I do have 2 ceiling fans that circulate 24/7/365 - that is something that helps, I think, but works in my more contemporary space - and less so in your pic above.

@just_janni
Given the window is so huge, would you still think it would be dull?
I checked out the model house on a overcast day and it wasn’t dull

Are you hiring someone to clean those windows?

@vinmarks i have to hire someone after i bought the house

How do you plan to use the room during daylight hours?

My north facing light is what I would call dull. It obviously never creeps in or casts shadows (or highlights the floating dust or fades the furniture - so I guess there's that). But I like a little movement in my light to capture the change in pattern.

@lyfia On the weekends, I plan to spend my entire day in this room when I do not have other activities. Watch TV, sit and relax.

How large is the property and what will those windows be looking out over? The only reason to have windows like that are if you have a fantastic view.

@cpartist I agree with your point.

There is no view. There will be another house after an about 200 ft

Its a community. There will be homes all over, but each home will be in a half acre lot.

@just_janni thats a good point about the change in pattern. Thank you!

So why would you want huge windows looking out at your neighbors? Pick another floor plan that works with your lot. This is not it.

So all that light would interfere with the TV watching most likely.

We have similar windows south facing, with a view. We gave tint and screens for the heat and they work well.

"There is no view. There will be another house after an about 200 ft"

If you stay with this plan, I'd reserve a hefty amount for some really great landscaping and hardscaping in your yard, so you have something to look at and a nice entertainment space.

My SIL has a south facing two story living room with high windows. She complains about the sun coming in a lot, especially in mid-summer. It's blinding in one spot in her kitchen (she has an open floor plan). She's going to get her windows tinted to see if that helps or otherwise have some type of motorized screens installed. Hers isn't even a wall of windows like your potential layout, either.

My windows face south in FL. However I have a lanai on the downstairs so that in summer the light doesn't penetrate and in winter, it does stream into the rooms.

Upstairs, my roof overhangs are 32" wide so it helps. However these are standard height windows and/or glass doors.

When you listed your pros and cons, you didn't say for south "higher energy costs in summer".

Here is another thing to consider.

I was noticing this is a custom spec house close by. It has a large glazing on the West side. There are 3 large intake registers for the A/C on the first floor. Ugly things generally (this house is under construction). When you have a large heat source like uncovered southern windows (or West), you have to have a large a/c unit. This requires a lot of air flow - intake and exhaust. It also requires a larger exterior unit.

But the big thing is that other rooms will not have this heat load so there will be a tendency toward differential temps in the house. Similar to a bonus room above a garage. You can design it away to some extent. But then comes winter when that room will not need any space conditioning.

I suppose you could have a unit for that one area or zoning for the open area but then that is another point of failure.

I always like to point out the fake curtain rods that these houses have. Sort of like the facade of a movie set - they aren't even trying to be "real". And in this case, how does one put real curtains on a curved wall? Our last house had a very private 1/2 acre - our babysitter didn't care - she wanted those curtains closed. Some people (hopefully not you) don't want that kind of exposure in night time even with privacy - it still affords bad people an option to look in.

Curved walls are very difficult to cover - I know a house that has one in the master bedroom. It has lived about 50% of its 12 year life on the market - with different owners. Still being turned over for less than 50% of its build price.

Any update on what orientation you chose and how you like it?

Hi Lil B, sorry for the delayed response
I took the lot with windows facing North

The house is still in framing stage
But looks I like it so far

I get the sunset light inside the house in summers which is really beautiful

But the only downside is: I wouldn’t get the beautiful winter sun in my living room during winter season

Make sure you update us when its done. With some photos!

What direction does your windows face if you're getting the sunset light?

Windows face North
So I’m getting some Sun before 9AM and after 6PM
In ATL

Ofcourse this light is only in the summer months

Evening light

North light behind

Windows