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FiberWall 458 Operator Series from Duxton Windows & Doors. Skycove from Marvin Windows & Doors. M A R C H 2 0 2 3 | 9 Residential Windows P H OTO G R A P H Y BY L I N DSAY R EI D/CO U RT E S Y J O H N DU ER K S EN A RC H I T EC T U R E More glass, less frame, and high-performance technology: this is the world of windows by STACEY MCLACHLAN S omewhere in the middle of building energy requirements and ever- changing aesthetic tastes, window manufacturers need to strike a bal- ance between form and function – and for 2023, it seems as though they've pulled it off. Pairing high-perfor- mance materials with high-demand designs, the hottest new window products embrace energy effi- ciency with plenty of style. Here's what's trending now. GL AZEY DAYS Every year, the window industry takes the physical possibilities to new heights. Window walls continue to be incredibly popular for single-family homes and residential towers alike, and improvements in engineering and technology allow for even bigger, more expansive glazing solutions than ever before. Glass walls can be up to 50 feet in length, accord- ing to Toronto's Magic Windows. It's a design option that welcomes in views, blurring the line between indoors and outdoors. As Duxton Windows and Doors so succinctly puts it: "Transparency is the word of this archi- tectural era." Glass walls allow natural light and beautiful views – though this style does limit the ability to access fresh air. Luckily, options like Duxton's FiberWall 458 Operator offers an elevation of venting technology, created to meet demand for extra-large casement windows and awnings, with a deep frame and super-strong sash supports. "Homeowners are increasingly taking the oppor- tunity to add natural light to their spaces," says Aynsley Dueck, marketing manager for Duxton. But glazing walls needn't be reserved for newbuilds: homeowners can connect a set of windows into a con- tinuous opening during a renovation, or expand on an existing window with added side or bottom panels. "A big window with a slim frame is preferred on the market," says Donna Cui, director of Beijing Northglass Technologies. "The pane is getting big- ger and bigger, and the frame is just getting slimmer and slimmer." Northglass's thermal break alu- minum windows are incredibly strong, and can facilitate these larger sizes easily with beautiful, narrow frames . . . and the company's high-quality PA66 thermal-break and double-silver and triple- silver low-E coatings keep even oversized windows highly efficient. Energy Creation also specializes in aluminum, praising it for being high quality and structurally stable. The windows' triple-pane tempered glass fea- ture low-E, Argon in-fill and a PA55 thermal break. Multi-point locks are heavy-duty, providing secu- rity and protection against the elements. By using a powder-coat finish (available in 100 custom colours), Energy Creation creates a no-maintenance frame: no fading, peeling, or chipping here. INSIDE OUT In line with the "bringing the outdoors in" trend, All Weather Windows re-launched its Atmosphere Folding Door this winter. The glass door – available in custom sizes up to 38 feet – features a slim profile for a clean and contemporary look that lets light shine inside in abundance. The brand's Pass Through Window takes the folding concept in a new direc- tion, ideal for connecting a home kitchen to the patio or backyard. It's a design that invites homeowners to entertain and make the most of their full property. The success of Marvin's Skycove is perhaps the best example of this desire for a connection with the outdoors. The glass structure creates an extension of usable space, projecting into the open air and creat- ing a nook that surrounds the inhabitant in natural light from every angle. The award-winning Skycove is designed, in Marvin's words, to "usher in restorative Pane Points

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