By: Jeffrey Dungan
Shakespeare once said, “The eyes are the window to your soul.” There is a transparency about our eyes that sometimes enables us to gain insight about a person by looking into those “windows.” Similarly, when it comes to design, windows are like the eyes of a home. They tell us much about the personality of a place, whether its design is more formal or relaxed, and perhaps a little of what’s going on behind the scenes (especially at evening time). Who can resist trying to get a little glimpse inside a house as we walk or drive by, especially if some interest was garnered from the exterior?
Inside our homes, windows work the opposite way, allowing us to see out into the world. When thoughtfully placed, they can frame a wonderful view as if it were a painting. Architects and designers are always trying to leverage opportunities and create spaces that have drama, and in those efforts, windows are indispensable. They are frequently the most important or initial thought in a room’s design. Think of your favorite spaces and you are likely to realize these rooms have a strong relationship to natural light or to a view due in part to some composition of the windows.
For me, windows are about light—its transmittance into the interiors and the rendering of form and texture as a result. Two of my favorite places—the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona and Grand Central Station in New York—offer excellent examples of the way light comes through the windows with resplendent, almost healing qualities that transform the space. The windows allow light to create a visceral experience, making the space feel like a world unto itself.
Architecturally speaking, windows are a primary tool in the language of a home. For large spaces, I enjoy using windows in groups, stacking them on top of each other in rows or with transoms, sometimes making entire walls of glass. In other rooms, where privacy is needed or wall space is at a premium, such as in a master closet or a butler’s pantry, one simple window can be just as powerful when placed in the right spot.
Once we establish the location of a window, there is still much to think about, starting with the size of the window panes. While my preference is for smaller panes, some opt for larger ones that allow more views of the outdoors. Then there are decisions to be made about profiles and the thickness of muntins (the slender divisions between panes), as well as the size and style of the mullions (the columns between windows). All of these things must be considered, as well as details regarding material, color, and shape, before the window’s design is complete.
In the same way that good food is essential to living well, windows are fundamental in the design of a great house. Without them, we would not be able to enjoy such powerful views of nature or allow the life-giving force of light to enter our rooms. Perhaps the most important role windows play is infusing our homes with that most uniquely human trait of all—a soul.
