The word window comes from the Old Norse phrase used a great
number of years ago, 'Wind Eye,' which means 'an opening to the air.' A window
happens to be an opening in the wall of a building or house. Its job is to let
in the light and air. A window that is placed advantageously is able to provide
a lovely view of the world outside from the inside of the house. Windows are quite
a piece of art according to both traditional and modern architecture.
Dating to many years ago a window was just a small oval
or square hole in the wall. In early Greek and Middle Eastern buildings thin
slabs of marble, mica sheets and oiled paper were utilized. In Roman architecture
small panes of window glass were first used in which they were held in frames
of bronze. Bars called mullions held the panes in place. Mullioned glass windows
were the chosen windows for European affluent people. A frame known as a sash contained
the panes and mullions fitted into it. In ancient China and Japan paper windows
were affordable and used widely. In the windows of ordinaryhomes in England
glass became common only in the early part of the 17th century.
Craftsmen in the Middle Ages devised stained glass to be
used in church windows. In these colored pieces of glass were set in figures and
ornamental designs.Only small panes of glass could be made until the 1800s. When
better machinery was invented in the 1850s it became possible to produce large
panes. This greatly affected the looks and design of buildings. Large sheets of
glass can be produced through contemporary glass technology to be used in
modern glass-covered buildings. From floor to ceiling these buildings have windows.
There are several styles in windows these days. Bay
windows, bow windows and oriel windows just out from a wall while dormer
windows cut through the roof. The traditional style of window is double-hung sash
window that has two parts or sashes that overlap a little and slide up and down
inside the frame. Where there are single-hung sash windows one sash is movable and
the other is fixed. A flat or sloped window built into a roof structure for day-lighting
is known as a skylight. A multi panel window is a bay window and has at least
three panels kept at different angles to form a protrusion from the wall line.
There are two or more sashes that overlap a little in sliding
windows but they slide horizontally in the frame. The casement window turns out
at an angle and is fixed along one side usually opened with a crank. Tilt and slide
is a window that combines the opening choices of a casement and a sliding window.
Tilt and turn is a window that combines the opening choices of a casement and vent
window. A vent window is like a casement window but has the hinge at the top or
bottom.
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