How many windows should there be in a shul?

The wall that one faces when he davens should have windows. The purpose of the windows is for one to look out towards heaven as a means of inspiration for kavanah in tefilah. Although one should look downward when he davens, the windows can serve as an aid if one’s kavanah is disturbed in the middle of davening. Alternatively, one should gaze out of the windows before starting Shemoneh Esrei to inspire his kavanah. According to the Zohar, a beis hakneses should have at least twelve windows. They may be spread across the walls of the shul. If a window is divided by a grid, each section can count as a separate window.

סימן צ ס"ד ס"ק ח-ט ביאורים ומוספים דרשו 7,8

How should a traveler seclude himself for davening?

One should not daven in a large open space (e.g. a field). Davening in an enclosed area instills the awe and fear of Hashem which is necessary for tefila. An enclosed area is acceptable even when there is no roof over it. A traveler is exempt from this halacha; he may daven in the middle of a field. If he can find a group of trees, it is best for him to daven near the trees since they afford some privacy. The poskim explain that when Yitzchok Avinu davened in a field, he hid himself between the trees so that his davening would be in a somewhat secluded area.  

ס"ה ס"ק י"א וי"ב ביאורים ומוספים דרשו 11

How must a person stand when davening outside a shul?

The Gemara states that one should not daven behind a Beis Hakneses and that if one does, he is classified as a rosha. Shulchon Aruch quotes two explanations for this halacha: 1) One may not stand behind the back (western) wall of shul and daven facing west. By standing outside the shul and davening in a different direction than the rest of the tzibur, one gives the impression of praying to another “power”. 2) It is forbidden to stand in front of the front (eastern) wall of the shul and daven facing east (in the same direction as the tzibur). Those who do this are called wicked based on the verse which describes the wicked people in the times of the first Beis Hamikdosh “whose backs were facing the heichal of Hashem”. One should be stringent and follow both opinions. This prohibition only applies if it is noticeable that one is davening opposite a shul. If one is davening in a building which is built in front of a shul, he may daven facing east even though his back faces the shul.

ס"ז ס"ק ט"ז-י"ז

• If a person must travel from alos hashachar and will not be stopping until after zman tefilah, Shulchon Aruch rules that he should say Shemoneh Esrei before he leaves and wait until the appropriate time to say Shema and its brochos. Although he will not be connecting geulah to tefilah, the ability to daven Shemoneh Esrei while standing trumps the benefit of davening in order. Others disagree and hold that he should wait until the proper time and daven in order, even if he will have to sit during Shemoneh Esrei. The custom follows this opinion.

• When davening Shemoneh Esrei, it is forbidden to stand on any sort of platform (e.g. a chair or pillow).

• Davening on raised ground which is three or more tefachim high is forbidden. Although there is no concern that one may fall, it is considered haughty. If the raised platform has the dimensions of four square amos or is surrounded by partitions, it is classified as a domain of its own and is not considered to be raised in relation to the rest of the room.

• What is the proper way to daven with the tzibur?

• May a minyan be divided to accommodate aveilim?

• Who is permitted to daven without a minyan?