Glass façades are being increasingly applied in the typology of office buildings. The environmental quality parameters of indoor spaces have an exceptional influence on the wellbeing and productivity of users. In the past, climate defined the architecture of a particular area. Façades of contemporary office buildings have similar characteristics regardless of their location. This study comprises four office buildings with different types of glass façades located in areas of continental and coastal climate in Croatia. Also, the research relates to a graduate study course, during which the students designed a survey to gain insight into the satisfaction of users of the analyzed buildings. The aim of this research is to explore the impact of the design of glass façades in a certain climate context on users. This paper will address the following research questions: (1) Is a fully glazed office building pleasant to work in? (2) Is a fully glazed façade an appropriate solution for office buildings in hot and sunny climates? The research results show that to achieve a comfortable indoor environment for buildings’ users, it is necessary to design the façade according to the orientation, especially in terms of glazing characteristics, a sun protection system, and window control.

Sunlight exposure is among the key factors in architectural and urban design. People spend more than half of the day in residential buildings, where sunlight exposure positively affects comfort, well-being, and some health problems. Insolation regulations and recommendations in many countries include criteria for minimum sunlight exposure of interior spaces to meet hygiene and technical standards and to enhance users’ comfort. This research shows a decrease in mandatory insolation criteria for residential spaces in Croatia since the end of the 20th century, which was the motivation for the assessment of European insolation standards. It provides a comparative review of current European recommendations and regulations and addresses the comprehensive issue of residential building insolation through the assessment of planning, urban and architectural design parameters. Research results show that regulatory traditions, climatic conditions, and planning cultures jointly shape national approaches to residential insolation. The research also shows that in the European countries analysed, insolation criteria are mostly mandatory at the national level. The insolation criteria assessed by this research range from urban standards, which refer to buildings, to apartment standards, which refer to rooms. The minimum window-to-floor ratio, with values ranging from 10 to 20%, and the minimum duration of sunlight exposure, with values from 1 to 4 h, were identified as dominant insolation criteria. Sunlight exposure criteria are necessary to protect residents’ hygiene rights, but should be adaptive to socio-economical, cultural and climatic contexts to support sustainable urban development.