Floor-to-ceiling windows opening outward, for more usable space inside

: The windows on the left side of the ground floor in the floor plan. https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/lage-stadtvilla-oder-efh-auf-500-m2-rechteck.33505/post-409926 Security is an important topic that I hadn’t considered. So rather a bad idea. I’ve already asked my father-in-law, who will install the windows. He’ll probably have something to say about it and will likely give me a good talking-to. But I just like floor-to-ceiling on the ground floor because it simply gives you the option to step outside, even if there’s a sofa in front of it, which can quickly be pushed forward (we’re not planning a huge corner sofa but rather several two- to three-seaters). On the other hand, I hate a cluttered windowsill like the plague. We will set up a plant shelf in front of the second (or fixed) sash, which also helps the floor-to-ceiling window with the light. Outward opening would have been practical because then you wouldn’t have to push the sofa away if you want to go outside. Thanks for the lively participation.

Outward-opening windows are generally totally normal in Scandinavia.

However, this does not have a cultural background, but traditionally arose due to the weather. The cold wind (and it is somehow cold there all the time) then presses the sashes against the frame and thus into the seals. Also, any existing snow load cannot push the window inward. In urban new buildings, there is therefore an increasing trend towards "normal" windows. P.S. The Swedes often install H-hinges. This allows the windows to be rotated once so that you can also reach the outside from the inside ;-)

imagine the windows are set to "tilt" and it starts to rain. Nice funnel...

At least the (Scandinavian) windows that I know open outwards cannot be tilted. Instead, there is usually a storm hook with several steps to open the window similarly wide as our tilt position - just rotated 90 degrees.

However, this does not have a cultural background, but rather developed traditionally due to the weather. The cold wind (and it is somehow constantly cold there) presses the sashes against the frame and thus into the seals. Also, any existing snow load may prevent the window from being pushed inward. In urban new buildings, there is therefore an increasing trend towards "normal" windows.

Thank you for the explanation, very interesting!

In warm countries with outward-opening windows, I only know tilt at the bottom

The windows on the plan’s left side on the ground floor.

So northwest and southwest / on both legs of the L-shaped sofa? There are certainly solutions for the security issue, only I was not personally involved in the construction as the boss and do not know the special gimmicks by heart. How do you provide shading there (with Venetian blinds the desire would collide)? In any case, I do not consider it a crazy idea, just uncommon in Germany (with the consequence of having to think a bit outside the mainstream about how to do it exactly). The Danish manufacturer Velfac just wrote to me a few days ago that they are about to close their German sales office again. As an alternative to the outward opening, a two-part inward opening would also be possible, i.e. to execute these two windows with fixed lower sections and to visually divide the window doors (dining table, kitchen, guest) at the same height with a horizontal "mullion".