Nowadays when we talk about window replacement, the first thing which comes to mind is probably modern UPVC windows which are so popular in today’s home renovation market and available in a variety of styles, colours, and add-on options. We all appreciate comfort, security and appearance of these modern windows and not very often we think about evolution in the window design. However, it would be unfair to forget the architecture of the previous époques which brought to us many fabulous styles. House windows, of course, being the key elements of any residence, definitely had distinctive features related to this or that particular style.

Let’s take a look at the windows in historic architectural styles and see what they looked like and what features they had.

Tudor Windows

tudor Tudor architectural style’s popularity was at peak in the Old World during 1920s-1930s. This style copied English medieval palaces of the Tudor period in the first half of the sixteenth century. Revival Tudor style in North America brought steeply pitched roof homes which resemble storybook cottages. These homes usually had rows of several rectangle shape (tall and narrow) casement windows with dark tone wood frames. Such windows would often have a geometric design of small diamond pattern lites with mullions made in lead glass. With asymmetry being allowed in the style, the windows could be positioned anywhere to provide desired views.

 

 

Palladian Windows

venetian windowAnother popular architectural style named Palladian after a famous Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, brought to us a popular Palladian window. The Palladian window is also called a Venetian window since its creator Palladio spent most time working in Venice, Italy. The Palladian window presents a symmetrical design comprising where a large central rectangular window with a half-circle top window is flanked by 2 narrow rectangular windows on each side. Being very elegant and graceful, the Palladian style reflected Palladio’s vision of the classic Roman temple style. It was evolving through the years, making Palladian windows extremely popular and was used by very rich people who could afford to build such luxurious mansions.

Second Empire Style Window

second empire new yorkIn the second half of the 19th century during the times of Napoleon III, Paris experienced a major building transformation which turned the city into the capital of monumental buildings which were later copied by the rest of Europe and even brought into the New World under the name of the Second Empire style. This impressive style demonstrated a lot of elaborated ornaments and its typical windows were usually quite high and were surrounded by elegant mouldings. Small dormer windows would always be present in the style being located at the Mansard roof. In fact, the Second Empire style is also called a Mansard style.

Main windows in sets of 2 or 3 with intricate eyebrow shape ornaments placed over them would often be positioned over the entrance. Bay windows were also used quite often on the façade of the building and flanked by pilasters.

Several prominent city halls in the US are built in Second Empire style, including Old City Hall in Boston, MS,  Baltimore City Hall in Maryland and some others.

Italianate Style

italianate house san franciscoItalianate style was formed in England as an alternative to the 19th century formalism. It was based on the Italian countryside farmhouses and successfully migrated to the New World where it was transformed by the local architects from 1840s until the mid 1880s.

The US south due to its political and historic development was almost completely deprived of the Italianate style,  the latter became extremely popular in the northeast and midwest states, especially in San Francisco with its famous Painted Ladies houses in Italianate style.

The most notorious feature of the Italianate style is a tall, narrow, arched window with pediments and moulded above it.  Or, alternatively a window may have a rectangular shape, but have an upside down U-shape crown trim which produces an impression of an arched window. Using bay windows or just groups of windows is also very common in the Italianate style.

Nowadays both Canada and USA have many residential homes built in these famous architectural styles. Should the homeowners have the need to replace the windows, they should consult professionals of the industry to make sure they get a quality window replacement and preserve the unique character and distinction of the exterior of the house.