Window openings allow communication between the interior and the exterior, but they are also elements that allow the user to control several aspects such as the light, sound, air, and privacy. Although people spend a great time inside, windows do have a strong relationship with the outdoor space and can influence a building’s openness or closeness. This relation has changed during the years with the introduction of new window opening types. (Orvell & Meikle, 2009). When referring to openness it cannot be thought about as visual transparency alone. In fact, it is related to all senses. It can be seen as the medium to regulate the functional between interior and exterior.” (Ayoub & Koba Yashi, 2001). This paper is part of the graduation studio Revitalising 20th century Heritage, aims to research the
process of assessment of the role the window openings present in the three buildings of the Rotterdam Harbour Police station play in defining the building’s openness or closeness. This research is positioned in larger research on how window openings help define a building’s openness or closeness towards the surroundings and creating a helpful ‘design options palette’ when having to intervene in a building’s openness or closeness. The research concludes that most of the windows present in the oldest building present a high openness, as well as in the 1994 building. On the contrary, the 1940 building presents window typologies with a high closeness. However, this research needs to be further developed in relation to other elements.