This is one of those things where I am kind of torn:

On one hand, it is nice to have a view

On the other, I worked in a shop with a bench, lathe, drill press, and milling
machine  backed up to the windows, and a southern view, and other lathe and mill
on the other side of the 5m wide (20m long) room, so the light was to the
operators back. Stool height was a bit below the bench height, maybe 50mm.

This experience told me that the direction matters. The southern view brought
lots of light, but all direct. It was less than ideal much of the day for the
bench and machines that faced the window. It also told me that the window stool
should not be an extension of the bench, and that it is REALLY easy to break a
window at that height and proximity. It also told me that a screen (or sheet of
lexan) between the lathe and a window is useful, though the shop manager didn't
agree. Then again, he didn't seem to care about the mess, and would yell when
someone (usually me) tried to clean it up. Really.

My current drafting space at home has waist to ceiling, north facing windows
behind the drafting table, and skylights with diffusers. Beautiful. Fantastic
light during the day. Highly recommended (above 30 degrees north, at least).

The shop space I had with west facing a number of years ago (nice until about
2PM, good otherwise) had window stool about 300mm (12 inches) above the bench
surface, two windows behind the bench, topping nice and high (2.5m? maybe). This
was good. Shelf was between the windows (maybe 800mm long) but nothing to block
the view or risk breakage of glass. This was my space, so I could do that.

My current shop space (personal) is basement, so the windows are high enough
that they do not come into play in this topic.


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