10 Undeniable Reasons People Hate London Window
Daylight Robbery - London's Blocked-Up Windows
What started out as a fascination for the visuals of London's blasted-up windows has turned into an investigation into the role that light and air play in our wellbeing. The exhibition, Daylight Robbery, features 80 photos of blocked-up windows in the city.
The Great Fire of London marked the beginning of a new phase in the design of windows. This led to a shift in the architecture and the introduction of the sash window.
What is a window?
A window is an opening constructed in a door, wall or roof to admit air and light. It is usually framed with glass panes mounted on the frame, allowing opening and closing. A window could also be called windows, window lights or window aperture. pane.
There are a number of different kinds of windows, however the ones that are most often associated with London are sash windows. They are vertically opening windows that open using a sliding mechanism. They are still used in older houses, but are less common in more recent constructions. Modern double glazed sash Windows are made from uPVC. They can be opened the same as traditional sash windows, but they offer much better insulation.
Sash windows are distinctive. They were created due to the narrow streets in London and the close-packed buildings. Two sashes slide up and down in the frame, and then overlap when opened. The movement of sash is assisted by a system of pulleys, weights, and counter balances that are concealed within the frame.
The sashes of a sash window can be opened by sliding them open or cranked like doors. They can be single hang, double or casement. A casement opens outwards and may have sashes that can be fixed or tilted to help with cleaning. There are also some casement windows that hang on hinges, allowing the window to swing in and out, similar to an awning window, or can be opened using the crank mechanism.
A sash window can be an elegant feature in any home, and it's easy to understand why they were popular for centuries. north london windows have flaws, and one of them is that they are difficult to secure in light of the latest security concerns. This is why we recommend that you consider replacing your windows that were sash-based with the latest tilt and turn models that are more effective in keeping the intruders away.
The Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was an enormous blaze that spread through the city's center on the 2nd of September, 1666. When the fire was finally extinguished, on Thursday the 6th, only four-fifths the city was left standing. It destroyed 13,000 homes, 89 churches, and 52 Guild Halls. Thousands of people were displaced. The fire was believed to have been started by a Pudding Lane bakery. The fire quickly spread due to the presence of combustible materials in warehouses and a strong easterly breeze. It is believed that 16 people to have been killed.
After the fire, Charles II began rebuilding the city. Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to create a new St Paul's Cathedral, and he also laid the foundations for dozens of other churches in the city. He also built wider roads and made sure that buildings were built of bricks instead of timber. The city was less overcrowded as a result of the fire.
Sash windows have been a part of London architecture for centuries. They are a popular choice because they offer a successful blend of traditional style and modern technology. It took them a long time to get to the point they are at today.
The first sash windows were invented in the 17th century. It featured the vertical sliding bar as well as an sash that was fixed. This made the window expand to the outside of the room, but not into the sky. Over the years the design of the sash was modified and it morphed into a box-style window. The sash is still an extremely popular and widely used window in different kinds of houses and apartments.
Jen Pedler selected a trompe-l'oeil in Smithfield that depicts a sailor returning home to his family. "I am awestruck by it because it could take place." It's a beautiful place and it's easy to imagine what could be happening in the room behind it," she said.
Andy Summers is an artist who has taken photographs of over 80 bricked-up windows throughout the City of London for his ongoing project Daylight Robbery. He initially was intrigued by the aesthetics of these windows, but later realized that these windows have significant historical significance.
Sash windows
The capital of the United States, with its rich and long history is home to some stunning period structures. Sash windows are a feature that's often associated with these historical buildings. They can be found in the London streets from aristocratic terraces to humble townhouses.
Despite their popularity traditional sash windows don't always look the best in the present day. They have a reputation for letting in draughts and being difficult to open and close, and often getting blocked. But a new, double-glazed sash window by Lomax + Wood can be a breath of fresh air offering a high-quality wood solution that's easy to operate and has a high energy efficiency.
The sash window was created by English craftsmen, but it is not known for sure. Following the Great Fire of London, they were also credited with changing building regulations to replace larger windows with frames that were narrower, which were less likely to catch fire. These recessed frames created Georgian and Victorian buildings distinctive facades.
The sash is made up of small panes that are held in muntins or glazing bars. Originally, windows were made of multiple panes because glass was expensive. If one of them broke replacing it would cost a lot. The cost of glass has fallen dramatically, and windows are now constructed of a single pane with astragal bar applied to give them the appearance of smaller panels.
Sash windows can be opened by sliding or using the box sash. Double-hung sashes are able to be opened from both sides. The two sashes are held in vertical grooves within the frame by a sash cord and balanced by weights that are hidden within the box frame.
Many sash windows are more than 100 years old and may be exhibiting issues such as rattles or draughts. You can replace them however, by installing double-glazed sash windows that are FENSA registered and comply with strict building regulations regarding thermal performance as well as security and acoustic insulation.
Windows that are smashed up
While walking through the streets of old England you might have noticed that windows are often replaced by bricks. This edit may seem odd, but it's actually for a good cause and it involves money. Back in 1696 there was a tax on windows imposed which charged homeowners more based on how many windows their houses had. Known as the 'daylight robbery This tax was so hated that people went to great lengths to avoid it.
One way was to build their homes with a minimal amount of windows, or without them altogether, while others would block them up. This window-blocking was short-lived and the 'daylight-robbery tax was eventually eliminated in 1851. It's common to find windows that have been smashed up on the exterior of older buildings. You can tell if they were windows by taking a look at the lintel or sill that is matched to the original glass.
Another method to determine this is to look for the stepped-back lines in the brickwork that resembles the lines that the glass could have taken up on either side. Also, take a look to see if the bricks are all the same colour, and if there is a gap in the mortar where the window would have been, it's possible that the window was never actually blocked off.
The Daylight Robbery, an exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London is worth a visit for those who are interested in learning more about these windows. The exhibit explores the effects of light and air on our health and well-being.
The exhibition has its faults. Most notably, it claims that "many" of the homes that were featured were erected to avoid paying the Georgian era window tax. (And this isn't just because of a general dislike of the tax.) It doesn't also take into account conditions that affect wellbeing, especially health, after the introduction of window tax and the so-called "lockdown" period.