Windows are something that was in my mind since I’ve travelled around. Why the hecks are windows slightly (or not) different in each countries ? I can hear the guy on the back yelling: different countries, different needs. Simple. Thanks a lot I think I figured that already. That problem is still using some of my (few) brain cells activity. 
Here’s an example: A French window from an old building. Typically a Parisian apartment. This picture is taken from the company I worked for last summer. The place is not far from the Sacré Coeur to be more precise. As you can see, besides the style (not in consideration at all in this issue), the window can be opened widely and hence allows some fresh air to get in and refresh the place. After thinking a little bit Paris might not be a good example of a place in the world were you can get fresh and healthy 
air but then again that’s not the point here. Then comes a typical Icelandic window (used in our example but, correct me if I’m wrong, can be replaced by any Scandinavian windows). As you can see we cannot open the damn bloody window ! Only a few (3 possible slots). So I’m wondering: WHY ? What the matter ? How people managed to refresh their home ? I’ve thought of that for quite a while now and believe me I’m still stuck in ignorance. For instance, have you ever entered in a student’s place right before he got up after a night working ? It stinks the deer !! No really. How do they 
manage to have a correct fresh room and not a place that smells like rank sewage ? I personally have no idea. I hope I’ll find the reason sometimes.And oh Please don’t tell me: But, Iceland is so cold, people cannot open their windows for more than a minute. Bullshit ! It’s maybe colder than the average cities 2 months a year, that’s it. Adding the fact that the purpose of the normal window system is to open and CLOSE !
now as you say it. it’s true: windows are different in every country. strange.
May be they are afreed that some one through himself….from the window..):
it look like preson..!
the sight outside seems to be wonderful!
Well . i got some idea .. Here in hight tower they dont open window @ all , they get fresh air throught the cooling system wich have filters and add some susbentce to the air …..That the air would stay fresh…May be they use same method…
Hehe. well I haven’t seen any kind of air conditioning anywhere.
But yeah, in a way it looks definitly like a prison :/
the reason is this: the irons with the 3 slots, which you open and close the windows with are called “stormjárn/wind-irons”, you may have noticed that the wind is almost never blowing the same direction here and its rarely if ever no wind. If you were to open a window completely it would break because of the wind either by crashing against the housewall or back in the windowsill. that’s why ;-)
Most icelanders keep the windows open all the time and turn up the heat in the appartement if it is winter. Cheap engergy…
How come there are iron-bars in your window, are you in prison in Iceland?
btw, nice blog
Thanks for the explanation.
I’ve written that this summer and haven’t experienced the automn nor the winter.
It makes much more sense now :)
And oh, yeah the photos have been taken while I was at the office.
I kinda work in a sensible area, where everything is really secure ;)