Minimal modern house facade with narrow windows

In **Japan**, a quiet design shift is taking place — homes are being built with **smaller, fewer windows**. Traditionally, large windows symbolized comfort and openness. But today, **energy efficiency, cost, privacy, and safety** are redefining what *“good design”* means. --- A 41-year-old office worker in Nagoya described his reaction after seeing his new house plan: I grew up believing that big windows mean a good house. But ours had so few windows, all small. I was shocked at first. Later, he found the interior still bright and comfortable: The temperature is stable, and we don’t worry about glare or neighbors looking in. Another homeowner in Karuizawa, Nagano, chose narrow fixed windows for security and easy cleaning: Even without windows in the bathroom, I don’t mind. It’s cleaner and simpler. --- Behind this shift lies a practical reason: **cost and insulation performance.** While Japan’s double and triple glazed windows offer superb insulation, they’re expensive. Builders realized that **reducing total window area** can achieve similar efficiency at lower cost. According to the *Japan Sash Manufacturers Association*, new homes today have an average of **15.7 windows per house**, down **4.2 since 2015**. About **70% of unwanted heat enters through windows** in summer, so shrinking them saves both energy and money. Even Japan’s revised building code now allows smaller window areas if lighting standards are met — aligning architecture with energy goals. --- Design always adapts to context: cost, climate, lifestyle. --- ### A Question for Cambodia Could this approach work here — in a region where **light, ventilation, and comfort** depend so much on open air? As we rethink sustainability, maybe “less opening” isn’t less design — it’s **design tuned to context**. --- *Source: Yomiuri Shimbun* *Photos via [Yomiuri Shimbun](https://lnkd.in/gxNpYk38)*

Smaller Windows, Bigger Efficiency?

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