The evolution of the form and function of the window as a detail influencing historical architecture

Abstract

Using the concept of the window, which is the interface between the interpenetrating interior and the exterior of a building, the article shows window joinery as an independent architectural detail with aesthetic value expressed in an artistic form. The author discusses the changing function of the wall opening and emphasises its timeless role: bringing light and air into the building. Analysing successively the design assumptions of creators from antiquity to modernism, the article illustrates the integrity of windows and the façade of buildings, which influence the visual perception of the development in a broader cultural, artistic and historical context.

Keywords

• window joinery
• architectural detail
• historic architecture
• façade