Deep Walls
This pattern is shaped by
Problem
Thin walls — the standard 2×4 or 2×6 stud wall with drywall — provide minimal insulation, no thermal mass, no acoustic isolation, and no depth. The window is flush with the wall surface, the interior is a flat plane, and the wall does nothing but divide space. It is the most lifeless element in modern construction.
Evidence and Discussion
Thick walls — 300mm or more — create depth. The window becomes a window seat. The wall becomes a shelf, a niche, an alcove. The mass provides acoustic isolation, thermal stability, and a sense of solidity that thin walls cannot. In cold climates, the deep wall is also the best insulation strategy: a double-stud wall with a full cavity of insulation achieves R-40 or better without thermal bridges.
Therefore
wherever possible, build walls with a total depth of at least 300mm — whether through double-stud framing, masonry with interior insulation, or insulated concrete forms. Use the depth: create window seats in the reveals, niches for books and objects, alcoves for seating. The wall should have presence — it should feel like a boundary between inside and outside, not a membrane. You should be able to lean into a window and feel surrounded by the building.