What is the ideal window size for a south-facing kitchen in Delhi?

Vastu and composite climate together suggest a window approximately 3 feet wide with a sill height of 3.5 feet on a south face for a kitchen in Delhi. Type: Fixed + Vent (top hopper). Glazing: clear.

Is South an auspicious direction for a kitchen per Vastu?

South is an acceptable secondary placement for a kitchen. The traditional ideal is SE, but the room remains usable in South with the standard window choices.

Why does Delhi's composite climate need clear glazing?

Delhi sits in the Composite climate zone (Hot summers, cold winters, monsoon — the climate where classical Vastu was calibrated.). For composite climates, clear glazing balances solar gain, heat retention, and visibility — Operable windows matter more than fixed ones. The same opening that bleeds heat in January welcomes it back in July.

Window Guide · Delhi

South-facing Kitchen

South is an acceptable secondary Vastu placement for a kitchen. Window design tunes to Delhi's composite climate.

CompositeDelhiYama · Agni (Fire)

The recommendation

Width

~91 cm

Sill Height

3.5'

high sill — measured from finished floor

Type

Fixed + Vent (top hopper)

Glazing

clear

Single 6 mm

Overhang / chajja

Minimum projection above the window

WWR

15–20%

Total window-to-wall ratio for the room

These figures are advisory — drawn from IS 3792 (Composite zone) and Vastu Shastra teaching tradition. An architect should adapt them to your plot's exact bearing, plinth height and facade design.

Why this direction for a kitchen?

Kitchen windows must extract cooking smoke and steam (so an exhaust-fan window over the cooktop is non-negotiable), let in morning light when the kitchen sees dawn use, and ideally allow a glance at the entry / dining area for family interaction while cooking.

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Discipline, storage, mass. The heaviest face — anchor with weight, not lightness.

Vastu's ideal placement for a kitchen is SE. South is an acceptable secondary band.

Why Delhi's climate matters

Delhi is in the Composite climate zone (Cwa, Cfa per the Köppen scale; Composite per NBC 2016). Summer temperatures: 35-48°C, winters: 2-15°C. Rainfall: 500-1200 mm/year. Humidity: 20-90% (seasonal).

Operable windows matter more than fixed ones. The same opening that bleeds heat in January welcomes it back in July.

For a south face in this climate, the recommendation is a fixed + vent (top hopper) window with clear glazing and a sill at 3.5' — calibrated for hot summers, cold winters, and seasonal monsoon.

Common mistakes

Sink directly below the window — splashing wets the wall and corrodes the sill
No exhaust window over the cooktop — steam damages the ceiling
South-facing kitchen window with no shading — afternoon heat compounds the cooking heat