Medieval Casement Windows (England)
For more than 500 years, windows have become one of the primary stylistic components of Western architecture. Long before the sliding sash windows of the Victorian era or the floor-to-ceiling glass of modern high-rises, the casement window reigned as the primary method for bringing light and air into a building. Defined by its side-hinged sash that swings outward like a door, the casement window is one of the oldest and most enduring architectural features in Western architectural history.
Kingscote (Newport, RI)
Origins in Medieval Europe
While the concept of an operable window is ancient, the “true” casement window as we recognize it today—a hinged frame holding glass—first began to appear in Medieval Europe. Specifically, examples dating back to the 15th century in England and France show the transition from simple wooden shutters to hinged glazed sashes.
Salve Regina University Munroe Building (Renovated by A4 Architecture) (Newport, RI)
In these early years, glass was an precious luxury. Windows panes were typically small, consisting of tiny glass “quarries” (often diamond-shaped) held together by a lattice of lead strips known as “cames”. These early frames were usually made of wrought iron by local blacksmiths and were set into stone or heavy timber openings. The side-hinged design was a practical necessity; it allowed the window to be opened wide to provide maximum ventilation in smoky, fire-heated homes.
The Rise to Widespread Use
Private Shingle Style House (renovated by A4 Arch in Newport, RI)
The casement window became the standard across the British Isles and much of Continental Europe during the Tudor and Stuart periods (16th and 17th centuries). As prosperity grew, windows became more common, larger and more ornate. In the 17th century, the “cross casement” became popular, featuring a tall, thin frame divided into four sections by a single vertical mullion and a horizontal transom.
Modern Resurgence
Casement Window (Anderson Renewal) in stair lobby.
The casement window saw a massive revival in the early 20th century. Following World War I, advancements in steel manufacturing led to the mass production of metal casements, which became a hallmark of the Art Deco and Modernist movements. Today, thanks to their superior airtight seals and the ability to capture passing breezes, they remain one of the most popular choices for energy-efficient modern homes and offer greater egress potential than double-hung windows.
New Luxury Casement Windows (Leaded Glass)
If you have a house in New England that you would like designed or restored correctly, please feel free to reach out to the award-winning professionals at A4 Architecture, and we will be pleased to discuss how we can assist you.
Ross Sinclair Cann, AIA, LEED AP, is a historian, educator, author, and practicing architect living and working in Newport for A4 Architecture and is Founding Chairman of the Newport Architectural Forum. He holds honor degrees in Architecture and Architectural History from Yale, Cambridge, and Columbia Universities, teaches in the Circle of Scholars program at Salve Regina, and has been a licensed architect since 1993.