Second Light (70 Photos): Second Light Window In The House, Pros And Cons Of Lighting. What Does This Mean In The Project? Home Design With A Second Light From The Inside

Nowadays, cottages with double light are experiencing their rebirth - they are a spacious structure in which there is no interfloor overlap. This approach maximizes the penetration of natural sunlight into the house. However, this solution has its limitations. That is why the architects argue that such a design is not possible in every home.

History of appearance

The second light is understood as part of the volume of the living room, which in the layout occupies the space of the second or third floor. Thus, the entire structure is built without overlap between floors. In this case, the windows are arranged in rows or installed in the form of volumetric stained glass systems.

Buildings decorated using a similar technique look airy and filled with light. This effect is achieved due to the light rays falling through numerous windows.

Among professional designers, the technique for dismantling floors has been called the "double-height hall".

For the first time, interiors equipped with the use of a second light found their embodiment in the Middle Ages. In that era, they could be found in government buildings, the homes of noble people, as well as in churches and shrines. Candles were not used very often in those days, and the premises needed lighting. Therefore, the arrangement of a tiered space simultaneously solved several issues - it made the interior space lighter, and at the same time emphasized the luxury and aristocracy of the facade of the building.

The double-height technique was used in Russian houses and palaces of the Old World. The reception was widespread in the estates of noble nobles.

The halls of the famous Grand Palace in Peterhof are decorated with additional light, the technology is embodied in the architecture of the Elysee Palace in France, as well as in the Gothic castle Herrenchiemsee in the German city of Linderhof.

At the beginning of the last century, the era of palace balls was replaced by the democratic, laconic Soviet system. But even in those days, buildings without ceilings continued to be actively erected. They were intended for public needs, a striking example of this is the House of Pioneers on Lenin Hills in Moscow.

Most of the main staircases in typical buildings of the Soviet era were complemented by two or three tiers of windows. This visually increased the free space, moreover, it gave the impression of a stately and fundamental building.

Nowadays, architects widely use second light in the construction of country mansions. He found his application in spacious two-level apartments. We can safely say that these days this technique is experiencing another round of its popularity - this is due to the fashion for natural beauty and natural luxury in design. Today the trends are natural materials, a minimum of decorative details, an abundance of light and openness of the premises. All this allows you to recreate an airy interior filled with air and light in one space. Two-story houses with all their appearance emphasize excellent taste, high social status and exceptional financial capabilities of their owners.

Advantages and disadvantages

Double light, like any other architectural solution, has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of such layouts include the following.

Aesthetics. Most homeowners who choose a two-story interior attribute their choice to stylish design, plenty of light and high ceilings. They are the obvious advantages of a tiered structure over any other design techniques for private houses.
Maximum illumination. The two-level arrangement of the windows multiplies the natural illumination of the living room. Even if part of this space is allocated for the mezzanine, the level of natural insolation will in any case be much higher than in a typical room. This is especially harmonious in sunny places, so double-height houses are often erected in regions where the number of sunny days per year is small. True, in this case, you will have to take care of professional insulation of window openings in advance. Otherwise, the heat loss in the living space will be great.
The ability to create an unconventional design interior. There are many options for decorating the interior of a double-height space - installation of a small balcony, an open completely interfloor space, fixing mezzanines and many others. In addition, an unusual design can be achieved not only in the inner part of the building, but also on the side of the facade. It looks especially stylish if the exteriors are decorated with unconventional stained glass windows.

Despite the obvious advantages of two-light designs, they also have significant drawbacks that the owner of the premises needs to know about in advance

Good acoustics. Acoustics have always been a plus. But if we are talking about buildings with double light, this is rather a minus. The complete or partial absence of interfloor space, as well as empty walls, lead to the fact that even the quietest sounds are clearly audible upstairs. This risks becoming a significant problem if a bedroom or study is located on the second tier. To reduce the noise level, dense curtains and sound-absorbing claddings are used - this muffles the sound a little, but still does not completely solve the problem.
Complicated care. The layout system using the second light technique implies a reduction in the floor area that does not need to be washed and tidied up - at first glance, this may seem like a plus. However, it should be understood that this significantly increases the height of the walls and the area of the window openings. It is much more difficult to care for high vertical surfaces, for this you will have to use stairs, stools or stepladders. All this significantly complicates the maintenance of cleanliness and order in the house.
Dangerous staircase. When arranging double-height systems in spacious buildings, it is not difficult to find a place to build a staircase. In duplex apartments and small buildings, it is much more difficult to do. The fact is that a functional staircase will take up too much space; not everyone can afford it. In this case, a compromise solution is most often made - the installation of a spiral staircase or even an attic model. For adults and adolescents, this is perfectly acceptable. But kids, the elderly and injured household members are at serious risk when moving along such a structure.
The need for ventilation. Rooms located under the ceiling require functional ventilation. In most cases, sleeping rooms are located on top, a mandatory requirement for them is the free supply of fresh air. To this end, it is necessary to pull the ventilation ducts and air ducts to the upper level - if this is not done, the rooms will be too stuffy.
Heating costs. The impressive volumes of living spaces require an adequate amount of heat. The heating system in houses with a second light must be thought out to the smallest detail. The difficulty here lies in the fact that, by its physical nature, heated air tends to rise upward, while the lower blocks remain cold. It will be uncomfortable to be in such a room. In this case, you will have to think about additional heating systems - these can be air curtains, underfloor heating systems or radiators. However, their capacity is often lacking. Therefore, for the organization of full-fledged heating, several techniques have to be combined. Such work entails additional costs, and considerable costs.

Speaking about the disadvantages of the second light, it is worth mentioning the serious costs of its arrangement and subsequent operation. Such an architectural solution requires the costs of creating a project and installing additional heating and ventilation systems and interior decoration. However, these costs are fully compensated by the high degree of comfort of the home that meets all the functional and aesthetic needs of its owners.

Features of the design of a room with a second light

Zoning

The double-height project assumes a clear zoning of the room. Therefore, even at the design stage, it is necessary to determine the functional purpose of each level.

In most cases, the ground floor is reserved for the living room, a little less often for the dining room. Upstairs are offices and bedrooms.

A stylish solution would be to install a fireplace in the lower rooms. It can be a full-fledged structure or its imitation; it can act not only as a decorative element, but also as an additional source of heat. If on the lower tier there is a living room combined with a dining room or kitchen, then instead of a fireplace, you can place a small cooking and heating stove.

Layout

The double light concept involves the interconnection of two to three floors. This leads to the fact that the number of rooms intended for living is reduced. Therefore, such projects are created mainly in houses with a sufficient amount of space. Such rooms should have high ceilings and be spacious, and the layout should provide for an additional heating system.

An indispensable structural element is a staircase. There should be a lot of space for it, otherwise it will be uncomfortable and rather steep. Usually it is placed along the wall - this allows you to use the living space as ergonomically as possible.

Household premises are usually grouped near the living room, thereby eliminating the need for corridors. The technology of two-story houses is usually used for two-story buildings, although with proper planning, buildings with an attic can also be equipped with two-level lighting.

Design

Any styles can be realized from inside the building with double light - classic, loft, high-tech and scandi. Optimally, a two-story room should have a square shape and be spacious, otherwise, after furnishing, it will evoke associations with a well. Interior design should be aimed at recreating the most intimate and atmospheric space. For this, the height of the walls is visually reduced by horizontal selection of the window tier and the mezzanine space.

Due to the impressive area and the impressive volume of the room in the decor, it is important to use only those objects that will correspond to the space in scale and will not be lost against its background. When installing the second light, special attention will have to be paid to the design of the windows. Too much glass can create a depressing impression, but at the same time, it is also impossible to completely hide the windows behind multi-layer curtains. That is why one of the most important tasks of a designer is to find that very "golden mean".

Facade and roof applications

The second light is traditionally focused on the main facade of the building. Outside, it is marked with all sorts of architectural accents - non-standard volumes, balconies, arched forms and stained glass windows. If the building is located in a personal secure area with a high fence, the street lighting should be designed in such a way that it complements the interior light at night. A very stylish effect is provided by the overhead lighting of the roof - from the side, such an exterior looks really impressive.

In which houses is it better to use?

As a rule, a double light system is implemented in cottages over 120 sq. m.

It makes no sense to equip it in small buildings, since the combination of two floors reduces the usable area of the room and, therefore, the number of rooms.

The house should be built with bricks, planks or vulture panels.

For the installation of a double-height system, important requirements must be met

The height of each floor in the building design should be no more than 3 m.
The space should have a shape close to a square. Long and narrow rooms are not suitable for this architecture.
The house should be provided with supports, consoles, as well as supporting structures.
The second floor of the building must be reliably soundproofed.

And, of course, do not forget about the aesthetic component. The beauty of the surrounding landscape is at the heart of the double light - panoramic glass allows you to highlight the picturesque views. That is why such buildings are often used by owners of plots on hilly terrain or on the coast.

Beautiful examples

The second light allows you to make the space inside the house large and spacious. Such buildings look rich, luxurious and in all their appearance resemble palaces from the past. They become a sign of the material well-being of their owners. It doesn't matter what style you choose, double lighting invariably brings an atmosphere of grandeur and monumentality to the design.