Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/883

 1809.] B Proportions for Windows. 715 PROPORTIONS FOR WINDOWS. THE pupil, in an architect's office, ■who makes his first attempt at designing, is veiy much puzzled to determine the correct number and pro- portions of his windows, with a view to external and internal arrangement and effect. Too many there are, not alone pupils but full-blown architects, who pay little heed to the interior, provided the exterior is to their fanc} r. Hence the frequent blunders, committed in this matter ; eventuating in ill-lighted, ill- ventilated rooms. We will make a few observations on this subject, which may be of use in helping the pupil to decide what is most proper to be done. Taking the Italian window as the standard, it and the modern English being much the same, we would first find the cubic con- tents of the room, and the square-root of that cubic would give us the amount of window-space required. For example, let the magnitude of a room be given, multiply the length and breadth of the room together, and that product multiply by the height, and the square-root of that sum will be the area, or superficial contents, in feet and inches of the space required. Suppose .the room to be forty feet long, thirty feet broad, and sixteen feet high, then 40 X 30 X 16 = 19,200, which product is, in feet, the cubature sought ; and the square-root of it, neglecting a small remainder, one hundred and thirty- eight feet, for the aggregate area of the apertures. One hundred and thirty- eight feet will make four windows, of a handsome size and- shape, adapted to the apartment in question ; and if divided accordingly into four parts, thirtj'-four feet and a half will be the area of one of them. The area thus obtained when set out for a ground- floor, according to the customary rule, which allows rather more than two squares in height, each window may be about eight feet eight inches high, by four feet broad. By the same rule, the dimensions of all the apertures of windows for rooms of any other cubature may be determined. If the aggregate area of the windows is enlarged, it must be borne in mind that the temperature of the room is reduced in the same proportion ; the heat produced in them being so very speedily communicated, through the glass, to the atmosphere without. It is for this reason, that, in Quebec, Mon- treal, and the northeasterly towns of Canada, as well as in Russia, and other countries subject to great severity of winter, the inhabitants are forced to use double windows. That is, one window within another, the interspace being useful in preventing the escape of warm air, or the entrance of cold into the room. In our northeasterly States, this would be a desirable contrivance For slsy-lights, lanterns, cupolas, &c, used for lighting stairs, halls, galleries, and the like, this system of double-sashes might be made most effective, in pre- venting the escape of the warm air, which rises into them. In computing for the height of win- dow-sills above the floor, it is well to arrange, so that persons sitting may enjoy, with ease, the pleasure of looking out. In our grandsires' days, this was neglected ; and the consequence was, that in order to see what was passing, even across the street, one had to stand up ; for, the sill was at least three leet high. The introduction of the French sash corrected this nuisance ; and the top of the base-board, generally fifteen inches, then became the height above the floor. This was very pleasant in summer, but quite the contrary in winter ; for the French sash is ill- adapted to keep out keen frosty wind, or driving rain. So that the architects