It’s interesting how much we value “a view”. We venerate corner offices with a view. Rooms on a cruise ship or in hotels often have a price based largely on the size of the window, from porthole to floor to ceiling whoppers. And of course, nobody wants to live in a basement room with no windows.
Indeed, the word “window” is an Old Norse word for “Wind Eye”. I love the imagery of that! Originally it referred to holes in a roof or in the wall; Romans were the first known to use glass in their windows utilizing Egyptian glass blowing technology, but many different things were used in lieu of glass throughout history… anything from animal bones, to paper, to cloth.
Now there are so many kinds of windows; I love “louvered” windows… think of the blinds that you open and close every day, and imagine glass panes that move in slats like that, open and shut… letting air in, or closing it out just the way blinds let light in or shut it out.
I could write a whole other blog entry about stained glass (and I probably will), I have an absolute adoration for them and am known to prowl antiques malls looking for them in any form, from Art Deco to modern. Speaking of modern… storefront windows offer the perfect combination of art, advertising, and practical use. Check out these storefront windows… http://www.flickriver.com/groups/storewindowsaroundtheworld/pool/interesting/
So now when I am driving down the street, it’s almost like a game of I Spy… there’s a clerestory… a bay window… an oriel. They tell us so much about the history of a home, or the tastes of the architect who designed them.
We are approaching winter so I hope you will think about the Jarod Kintz' quote above and pay tribute to your window by simply gazing out of it on a snowy day, clutching a cup of hot chocolate in your hand. After you are done, check out this collection of some of the most beautiful windows in the world: http://www.quora.com/Which-are-the-most-beautiful-windows-in-the-world
Windows offer an often under-appreciated awesomeness.
