Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/884

716 The Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal. [May, of those days saw the necessity for a return to the old lifting sash, but with the improvement of a lowered sill. First, two feet six inches was the standard of reform ; and, as innovations, once commenced, will bring on others still, the height of the window-sills went down to twenty inches. This was, of course, for the rooms of the principal floor only. The window-sills of cham- bers had, of necessity, to be kept high : and therefore did not share in the fash- ionable reforms of the day. Although it is a practice, with some architects now, to keep down the window-sills of the principal chamber story so low, that the lower shutters have to be kept closed, to counteract the unpleasantness of this arrangement. The space between the window head and ceiling should be alwaj-s sufficient, on the principal floor, to admit of a good architrave, &c, as well as to be clear of the cornices of the several rooms. In the bed-rooms, the window heads will be nearer to the ceiling ; but still clear of the cornice. The French sashes, of which we have spoken, are still very popular in this country ; and no doubt present a veiy pleasing effect, on the exterior. But for interior finish, the difficulty of uphol- stering, so as to prevent their being altogether inconvenient, is very great indeed. Besides, the mere fact of their opening into the room, is a discomfort, not to speak of the constant liability to glass-breaking, which presents itself. The transom head is, to be sure, a par- tial remedy against the inconvenience connected with draping such windows, as the sashes are only hinged below that for use, and there is space enough, in the section above the window, to let them open, without interfering with anything, save the hanging curtains at either side. And here let us warn the young architect against the use of pointed windows, for interior finish. Nothing- can be more inconvenient, and, there- fore, out of place, in ordinary sitting- rooms, than this ecclesiastical feature. If a client is resolved on having them, to make up the appearance of his priory, then fiuish them square headed on the inside, filling up the spandril with quatre- foil ornamentation. But, never intro- duce a fixed mullion ; for, however more secure they make the window, they detract very much from its comfort, in diminishing the amount of light admitted into the room, and in affording, but a niggardly chance of leaning out of the window, oftentimes a very desirable privilege. Casement sashes do not answer a good purpose, in this country ; and can never maintain a foot-hold. We should, therefore, use every means, in our power, to improve the lifting-sash, as much as possible ; as it certainly has more of the elements of convenience, and positive comfort, than any of its compeers, or rivals, ancient or modern. The true proportion for the lifting, or English window, is two diameters in height : that is, let each sash be per- fectly square. We apply this rule, of course, exclusively to Domestic Archi- tecture. In the designing of windows for public buildings many things must be taken into account, which will go to govern imperatively in this matter. Both the inside and the outside ap- pearance of a window must be closely studied ; the inside with reference to the apartment of which it is a chief feature, the outside in its bearing on the general appearance of the building of which it forms, or is most requisite to form, the character. An ill-proportioned window is an in- delible blot upon an-otherwise fine apart- ment; and likewise may windows design- ed in bad taste condemn, irretrievably, an otherwise well-proportioned and high- ly wrought composition of an exterior. We propose to take up this subject again, when we will go farther into the advisability of styles, as well as the relative proportions of windows.