The Deep Reveal
This pattern is shaped by
Problem
When windows are flush with the wall surface — as in standard stud-frame construction — light enters as a flat plane. There is no depth, no shadow, no modeling of the opening. The wall is a membrane with holes in it rather than a thick boundary between inside and outside.
Evidence and Discussion
A deep window reveal — 200mm or more from the exterior face of the wall to the glass — transforms the window into a three-dimensional element. Light enters through a sculpted opening, creating gradients of brightness and shadow that change with the sun's angle throughout the day and year. The reveal provides a place to sit, a shelf for plants, a frame for the view.
Therefore
wherever possible, set windows deep in the wall — at least 200mm from the exterior face. Use the depth of the reveal for window seats, plant shelves, and the play of light and shadow. Splay the reveal (angling the sides outward) to increase the spread of light into the room. The deep reveal turns every window into a piece of architecture — not just an opening in a wall, but a room within the wall.