Skylight or artificial lighting as an alternative?

Hello dear community,

I would like to ask you again for advice and opinion on our new construction project:
A roof window is included in the basic package in the planning by our general contractor. The roof window brings light into the hallway on the ground floor, into the stairwell, and into the hallway on the upper floor.
Now we are considering whether we really want the window or rather want to remove it. I have attached pictures of the floor plan/exterior view as well as a photo from the show house.

Advantages of the roof window:
- More or even natural light at all in the hallway/stairwell

Disadvantages of the roof window:
- Expensive: credit from the GC unknown, but additionally also €1000 for an electric shutter (which would be a must for us)
- Difficult to clean
- Disruptive contour in the roof that prevents us from covering the entire roof continuously with photovoltaics
- Possibly a weak point in the roof for moisture intrusion (over the decades)
- Problematic for heat protection in summer (therefore probably shutter often closed anyway)
- Possibly noisy in rain/hail
- Weak point for burglary

Questions:
(1) How would you decide? Roof window or rather remove it?
(2) What would you most likely use to replace such a roof window? (Smart home is planned, so lighting via motion detectors is no problem)

Our friends have a roof window in the stairwell, future neighbors in the building area do not. That makes a world of difference when it comes to brightness, it also makes the hallway or stairs feel much more spacious and less confined with a window. The cleaning part is correct - only with a step ladder and rather only once a year if at all. I would recommend that you carefully consider leaving out this small window - small window, big impact. The new neighbors are already regretting their decision to paint over the roof window... Daylight can only be replaced to a limited extent by, for example, additional LEDs or similar.

I agree with my predecessor and additionally have the question, why an electric roller shutter there? That is the east side, if the north arrow is correct, and why would you constantly lower the roller shutter there?

We have such a window in the stairwell - for 25 years now. And I wouldn’t want to miss it for a single day.

Regarding your criteria:

Advantages of skylight:
- More or actually any natural light at all in the hallway/stairwell

Word - and that basically says it all.

Disadvantages of skylight:
- Expensive: Credit from the main contractor unknown, but additionally 1000€ for an electric shutter (would be a must for us)

The credit is probably minimal - and I don’t see the shutter as a must. We have none (also on the east side). I can’t say anything about the additional cost you expect.

- Hard to clean

I can’t remember the last time I cleaned it… must have been back in the ’00s… who cares.

- Disturbing contour in the roof that prevents us from covering the entire roof continuously with photovoltaic panels

We only have solar on the west side... and even there it wouldn’t bother me…

- Possibly a weak spot in the roof for moisture penetration (over the decades)

There is always some risk. I also married a beautiful woman, even though the risk that she might attract others is higher because of that…

- Problematic for heat protection in summer (therefore shutters probably often closed anyway)

As I said: not relevant for 25 years.

- Possibly loud during rain/hail

Now it’s getting weird…

- Weak spot for burglary

... and now it’s just plain silly. Do you seriously think someone would break open the skylight to get into your place???

Questions:
(1) How would you decide? Skylight or rather skip it?
(2) What would you most likely use to replace such a skylight? (Smart home is planned and thus lighting via motion detector is no problem)

As for the first, my answer is clear; for the second, although we don’t have smart home because I don’t want such nonsense in the house, we do have battery-powered motion detector lamps installed.

But there’s simply nothing cooler than stumbling into bed in the evening and having the full moon yell at you through the skylight on a clear night as if it were being paid for it...

I see it like my previous poster and additionally the question, why an electric roller shutter there? That is the east side, if the north arrow is correct, and why should one constantly lower the roller shutter there?

It is west or even slightly southwest

Is west or even slightly southwest

Ok, then invest the 1,000 euros. But it’s worth it. And besides, you can run them again in the evening.

Alternatively: there are also coated glasses that have strong heat protection (we have them in the conservatory) - also sufficient for southwest.