West-Facing Windows: Keeping Afternoon Heat Out
Why the west façade is the hottest, why curtains alone don't solve it, and the shading strategies that do.
Apartments, Houses & Renovation
Apartments & Flats
Applying Vastu and light-and-air thinking when the walls, entrance and orientation are fixed.
Traditional Vastu guidance
- When choosing a flat, many families consider the entrance direction, the location of the kitchen and master bedroom, and whether the north-east is open.
- Apply Vastu within each room: furniture placement, sleeping direction, the position of the puja corner.
- Practitioners generally consider the flat itself, not the whole building, as the unit of analysis.
Practical & building science
- Ask about orientation before you buy: which rooms face west (hot afternoons), which face north (steady light)?
- Dual-aspect flats (windows on two opposite sides) ventilate far better than single-aspect flats.
- Lower floors in dense areas may receive little daylight; check the room at different times of day.
- Balcony enclosures often reduce daylight and airflow to the room behind; enclose with operable glazing if at all.
Checklist
Tick off what your home already has. (Your ticks are not saved or sent anywhere.)
Common challenges
Very little daylight in the flat
Use light colours, glass or partially-glazed internal doors, mirrors opposite windows, and remove fixed obstructions from balconies.
Traditional Vastu recommendations are presented for cultural and educational interest and are not guaranteed to produce any particular outcome. For structural changes or safety questions, consult a qualified architect or engineer.
From the library