WINDOW
Windows are one of the most important aspects of any historic building. A well-built window is like a good piece of furniture – historic windows were constructed so that individual components could be repaired, instead of requiring an entire new unit if one piece breaks or rots. The design, materials, and placement of windows on a building help define the character of the building, and the loss of this important historic feature can forever alter the building’s original character and historic value.
Each month, preservation staff will shine a light on one of our many local historic windows. From mid-century corner steel windows to large Victorian era wood windows, Columbia’s historic buildings host a variety of distinct and intact architectural features worthy of celebration.
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December 2023
This grouping of arched windows is found on a commercial building in the Vista. The semicircular arch used here is also known as a round-head arch and was first used by ancient Roman builders. Roman builders also used arcades, or arches built in a row. In more modern times, the grouping of three arched windows seen here is a common feature of Italianate architecture. Windows of Italianate buildings were often tall, narrow, and often grouped with arched tops forming an arcade.November 2023
A dormer window is a roofed window that projects from a sloped roof to allow for daylight to reach attic spaces and lofts. While these windows have been in use since the 16th century in Britain, they were popularized by Francois Mansart who used highly decorative dormers on his mansard roofed designs in 17th century Paris. Dormers can be styled in many different ways and some variation of a dormer window can be found on almost all styles of architecture. For example shed dormers are common on Craftsman style houses while arched, round, or oval dormers are more common on Beaux Arts buildings. This dormer, found in the Waverly district, is a gabled dormer which is one of the more common designs and can be found on the widest range of styles including Federal, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, Gothic Revival, and Queen Anne. This Queen Anne house dormer is further enhanced with the use of decorative glass.October 2023
This unique window configuration is found in multiple neighborhoods around Columbia, most often on Craftsman Bungalows. The small, multi-light central window is located high on the wall to accommodate interior furniture placement beneath. This window is typically found in dining rooms and is referred to as a “buffet” or “Buffet-style” window as a buffet or sideboard may be placed underneath. The flanking windows match other windows on their respective houses, typically with multiple vertical muntins on the top sash, but their grouping with the central fixed window creates a unique shape and maximizes light on the interior.September 2023
An oriel window projects from the side of a building, typically on an upper floor, and is supported from below by corbels or brackets. This type of bay window originated in 15th century England corresponding with the late Gothic and Tudor periods in medieval England to allow more light to the interior of buildings. Oriel windows are also found on late 19th and early 20th century revival styles of these same medieval periods. This oriel window is found on a Tudor Revival Style home in Wales Garden. Tudor Revival Style buildings take on many characteristics of the Tudor period including the look of half-timbering, steep roofs, decorative brick and stonework, arches, prominent chimneys, tall narrow windows including casements, and an overall asymmetrical design.August 2023
This fixed, decorative window features lozenge-patterned muntins and is found on an 1890s house in the University Hill neighborhood. The decorative pediment above the window is a broken scroll, also known as a swan’s neck pediment, which has S-shaped curves separated by a central finial. The use of the scroll was common in classical architecture, a legacy of ancient Greek and Roman architecture, specifically found in the spirals, or volutes, of an Ionic column. In American architecture, swan’s neck pediments can be found on Federal, Georgian Revival, and Colonial Revival architecture.July 2023
This oval oculus window with wooden keystones is a part of a Neoclassical Style home in one of Columbia’s oldest residential areas. The Neoclassical Style became popular in the 1890s after the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago renewed interest in classical styles. The Neoclassical Style combines elements of earlier American Styles such as Georgian and Federal with revival styles such as Greek Revival. Oculus, or round windows, can be found within pediments of these early American styles.June 2023
The use of 6/6 sashes was common in the early 1800s with early American styles such as Federal and Greek Revival. The pattern became popular again after the turn of the century with revival styles such as Colonial Revival. The window here is found on a traditional Salt-box style house in the Granby Mill district. The houses of the mill districts were highly regulated in form and design. The 6/6 windows were originally used in all mill worker houses.May 2023
Stained glass windows were commonly incorporated in late 19th early 20th century residential American architecture, including styles of the Victorian era. Stained glass is made with pieces of colored glass held together by strips of lead, called “cames”, to form an image or design. Stained glass is found here on the 1890s, Queen Anne Style Whaley House. The Queen Anne Style is known for its decorative, elaborate, and often colorful exteriors- making colorful stained glass a very compatible element.April 2023
This decorative transom is located in the c. 1905 addition to the 1870s Sylvan’s building on Main Street. The Main Street storefront with matching transoms was added by the jeweler at this time for additional street-front display windows. Prismatic glass was used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in commercial storefront transoms to refract light into the space while leaving large panes of unadorned glass below for the display of merchandise.March 2023
These beautifully restored wood windows are found on a 1920s Airplane Bungalow in Historic Melrose! The design is unique for the area as it features four vertical panes in the top sash above a two-pane bottom sash. It is more common in this neighborhood to find a four-pane sash over a single pane sash (known as 4-over-1) or a two-pane sash over a two-pane sash (2-over-2). While there are very few examples of Airplane Bungalows in Columbia, Melrose Heights is host to six!February 2023
These steel windows are found on one of the modernistic “Homes of Tomorrow” in Earlewood. While steel windows were originally popular for fire-proof construction on industrial and commercial buildings, they became popular for residential properties between the 1930s to 1950s. The durable but streamlined look of steel windows made them a great option for buildings in the Art Deco, Art Moderne, and International Styles.January 2023
This month’s window is found in the Seminary Ridge neighborhood. Windows with diamond patterns are often referred to a lozenge or lattice windows and are most commonly found on Queen Anne, Craftsman Bungalow, and Tudor Revival Style houses locally (generally found on houses built in the 1910s to 1930s). This example on a Craftsman Bungalow in Seminary Ridge represents one of the earlier architectural styles of this neighborhood.
West Gervais
- The arch at the top of these windows is a semi-circular or round-head arch
- Arches built in a row are known as an arcade
- Grouped arched windows (in an arcade) are common on Italianate buildings
Waverly
- A dormer window is a roofed window that allows for daylight in attic or loft spaces
- Dormers have been in use since the 16th century but were popularized in the 17th century with their use on mansard roofs
- Variations of dormer windows can be found on almost any style of architecture
Cottontown / Bellevue
- Typically found on Craftsman Bungalows but can also be found locally on Tudor Revivals.
- Called a buffet window as it allows for buffet or sideboard placement underneath.
- Windows are typically multi-light with vertical muntins.
Wales Garden
- An oriel window is a bay window that is cantilevered from an upper story of a building
- Oriel windows originated in medieval England to admit more light into interiors
- Oriel windows are found in American architecture on Gothic and Tudor Revival Style buildings and occasionally on Queen Anne buildings
University Hill
- Scrollwork, found on furniture and architecture, is a legacy of ancient Greek and Roman architecture
- This broken scroll pediment is also known as a swan’s neck pediment as it resembles two swans facing each other
- This classical features is common on Federal, Georgian Revival and Colonial Revival architecture
Landmark District
- This oval oculus window features wooden keystones and is centered in the pediment of a Neoclassical home
- The Neoclassical Style was popular from the 1890s into the 1950s and combines elements of earlier American Styles, such as Greek Revival and Georgian
- Oculus windows, either round or oval, can be found within the pediments of Georgian, Federal, Colonial Revival, and Neoclassical buildings
Granby
- The use of 6/6 sashes is found in traditional American architecture
- This pattern was popular in the early 1800s and then again in the early 1900s
- Salt-box houses in the local mill village were built identically with 6/6 windows
Local Landmark
- Stained glass is created by holding together pieces of colored glass with lead “cames”
- Popular in residential architecture around the turn of the century
- Found here on a Queen Anne Style local Landmark, known for being a very colorful and decorative architectural style
Local Landmark
- Addition to the 1870s building was built in 1905 and allowed for more display area for the jeweler
- Prismatic glass reflects light deeper into the building
- Decorative transoms were used on commercial storefronts starting in the late 19th century
Melrose Heights
- Restored 1920s wood windows
- 4-over-1 configuration is unique for the area
- Found on one of Historic Melrose’s Airplane Bungalows
Earlewood
- Steel corner windows
- Used in modern architecture
- Found locally in one of Earlewood’s “Homes of Tomorrow”
Seminary Ridge
- Diamond pattern (referred to as lozenge windows)
- Found on a Craftsman Bungalow
- One of the earlier architectural styles in Seminary Ridge