From the medieval castles of Europe to the quaint cottages of the English countryside, historic casement windows have been a staple of architectural design for centuries. These versatile windows, often characterized by their hinged sashes and outward opening, have evolved and adapted to various architectural styles and periods. In this blog post, we will delve into the rich history of casement windows, exploring their origins, development, and enduring appeal.
The earliest examples of casement windows can be traced back to medieval Europe, where they were used in both residential and religious buildings. At this time, windows were primarily functional, providing ventilation and light to otherwise dark and stuffy interiors. Casement windows, with their hinged sashes and outward opening, were an ideal solution for these purposes.
During the Gothic period (12th to 16th centuries), casement windows became more elaborate and decorative. They were often adorned with intricate stone tracery and stained glass, particularly in churches and cathedrals. These windows not only served a practical purpose but also added to the overall aesthetic of the building, contributing to the sense of grandeur and spirituality.
As architectural styles evolved during the Renaissance (14th to 17th centuries) and Baroque (17th to 18th centuries) periods, so too did casement windows. In these eras, windows played a more significant role in the overall design of a building, with a greater emphasis placed on symmetry and proportion.
Casement windows were often arranged in pairs or groups, creating a balanced and harmonious facade. In addition, the use of mullions (vertical bars dividing the window) and transoms (horizontal bars) allowed for more intricate and ornate designs. These windows were frequently adorned with decorative elements, such as carved moldings, pediments, and pilasters, reflecting the architectural styles of the time.
The Georgian (1714-1830) and Victorian (1837-1901) eras brought further innovation and variety to casement windows. During the Georgian era, sash windows became increasingly popular in Britain, but casement windows remained a popular choice for country houses and cottages. These windows were often made of wood and featured small glass panes held together by leaded glazing bars, creating a charming and rustic appearance.
The Victorian era saw a revival of Gothic architecture, known as the Gothic Revival, which led to a renewed interest in casement windows. These windows were often designed with pointed arches and elaborate tracery, reminiscent of medieval churches. In addition, the Industrial Revolution brought about advances in glass production, allowing for larger panes of glass to be used in window design. This led to the development of the "picture window," a large casement window designed to provide unobstructed views and ample natural light.
Throughout the 20th century, casement windows continued to evolve and adapt to various architectural styles and movements. The Arts and Crafts movement, for example, placed a strong emphasis on craftsmanship and the use of natural materials, leading to a resurgence in wooden casement windows with simple, yet elegant, designs.
In the mid-20th century, modernist architects embraced the use of steel and aluminum for window frames, creating sleek and minimalist casement windows that complemented the clean lines and geometric forms of modern architecture. Today, casement windows are available in a wide range of materials, styles, and finishes, making them a versatile and timeless choice for any home.
Throughout history, casement windows have proven to be a popular and enduring architectural feature. Their versatility and adaptability have allowed them to seamlessly blend with various architectural styles and periods, from medieval castles to modernist masterpieces.
One of the reasons for their enduring appeal is their functionality. Casement windows provide excellent ventilation, as they can be opened fully to allow for maximum airflow. They also offer unobstructed views and ample natural light, making them an attractive option for homeowners and architects alike.
In addition, the rich history and timeless charm of casement windows add a sense of character and authenticity to any building. Whether used in a historic renovation or a new construction, casement windows are a testament to the beauty and enduring appeal of traditional craftsmanship.
In conclusion, historic casement windows have played a significant role in architectural design throughout the ages. Their versatility, functionality, and timeless charm have ensured their continued popularity and relevance in today's modern world. By exploring the history of casement windows, we can appreciate their enduring appeal and the important role they have played in shaping the architectural landscape.
Casement windows are the most common style of window. They feature hinged panels that swing open and closed. Casement windows are available in single panels or multiple panels. The direction a door swings, either to the right or the left, is called the handing. In addition to handing, window are identified as either inswing or outswing depending on whether they open into the house or towards the outside.
Our team of experts will work with you to develop a bespoke plan that fits your needs. We take a holistic approach to the planning process, combining our technical expertise with our knowledge of customer requirements and project constraints.
Doorwin provides one-stop solution for professional windows doors manufacturer and installation. We have been serving customers with our high quality and branded products in United States, Asia and worldwide.
This newly built private house is in Sydney, Australia. The area occupied by the fenestration system in our scheduled design drawings was up to more than 110 square meters. A wide range of design details made the perfect mix of modern aesthetics and traditional sophistication, the simulated vertical hung windows with tilt & turn opening systems in this home are absolutely breathtaking. SDLS (Simulated Divided Lites with Spacer Bar) brings some historical vintage feeling to the whole building without losing any energy saving performance. Long narrow fixed windows creating larger-than-life expenses, coupled with German high-end systems made this project stand out from the rest.
The client's idea was to maintain a certain vintage feel, and our aim was to meet the energy efficiency needs and standards of modern houses as much as possible while maintaining a retro design. Doorwin’s 61S simulated hung windows with tilt & turn openings is a respectful modernization of a classic architectural masterwork.
Why choose the tilt and turn opening method?
Because it generally has better air seals than sliding, single hung, or double hung window frames. Tilt and turn windows form a complete seal when fully closed, this means they are less prone to water leakage, and cold draughts and you’ll keep more of your heating indoors where it belongs. They can be opened in the upper tilt way to ventilate at a minimum opening status and are easy to clean outside of the glass; when there’s a good day, they can be opened as normal inward casement windows.
Our well-crafted bespoke systems enhance the functionality and panoramic view of this modern house.
Huge, fixed glass walls up to seven meters long and two meters high bring great lighting and open views, making it really refreshing to the mind. Five meters high long narrow windows give the whole building a contemporary aesthetic.
Every window’s placement and shape not only add to the uniqueness of this home but also provide a more energy-saving ability for the owners.
Doorwin energy-efficient integrated glazing units feature double-pane glass, warm-edge spacers, argon gas fill, Low-E coatings, and fully tempered glass, they can not only create a comfortable and natural indoor environment but also save electricity bills and heating bills of more than 100 USD for the owner, it’s a real bargain compared to choosing a regular glazing set.
Aluminum Door offered an air of uniqueness and elegance to a home. With their luxurious patterns and beautiful finishes, it provides this house with a bounty of aesthetics and security. Aluminum entry doors allow you to resist any weather extremes, corrosion, and pests. So aluminum is one of the most resilient and durable materials you can select for front doors considering the price/performance ratio.
With pieces of double panes, and Low-E tempered glass. The door provides a good insulation performance.
Divided lite windows and doors offer unique architectural solutions for buildings without compromising energy efficiency or aesthetics. Doorwin provides multiple muntin and glass options to customize your divided lite windows and doors. Further customization is available with a variety of colors and materials, creating an infinite number of design combinations to best suit your style.
In this project, we use SDLS (simulated divided lites with spacer bars), these bars permanently adhere to both sides of the glass, and spacer bars are installed between the glass, this is the most energy-efficient way to create the look of classical décor grilles. The windows in the bathroom bedroom and study have an Arch Transom Design, making these rooms, which are often used by the owner, have some traditional aesthetics.
BTW, Doorwin offers free design assistance, so if you need a custom design like this one, contact us right away and we will provide you with the most aesthetically and functionally pleasing design solution.
For windows and doors, hardware is as important as the engine is to the car. The continuous technological innovation of the European hardware industry has strongly promoted the performance improvement and functional innovation of windows and doors. In this project, Doorwin uses Hoppe™ multi-point locks, hinges, and handles from Germany.
Multi-point lock systems provide not only the burglar-resistance but also a tighter compression seam, making the window keeps good energy-efficient performance. Together with Technoform Bautec’s insulation edge bond and sealant strips, these make up our products' top insulation and energy-saving performance.
We have several international patents to reduce clients’ labor costs, such as our unique flanges and assembly type tubular design, which is different from the other products on the market. What sets us apart among Chinese counterpart is that all our products are equipped with nail fin structures for quick and easy installation. Labor costs during installation may exceed of the window and door price, therefore, our exclusive patent allows users to not only get a significant increase in installation efficiency, but also greatly reduce the labor cost of window and door installation. A cost that may bring you unexpected savings that far exceed the price difference you may care about now.
With our own expertise, we provided the no-cost design development and contract documentation with CAD & BIM drawings, including elevation, details about the project, and installation help.
Before production, we will provide accurate sample drawings, which will clearly show the cross-sectional pattern, size, opening method and direction, pattern of the warm spacer, and the installation nodes. We will not go into production until you have signed off on the drawing to ensure that you receive a final product that meets the exact requirements of your project.
Doorwin's professional packing system guarantees all products are delivered safely and without any damage. We apply a four-point packing system. Firstly, adhesive plastic film is applied on interior wood frames and exterior aluminum frames to avoid scratches on the surface. Then, a paper board is applied after we apply air bubble film surrounding the whole windows/ doors to avoid any destruction or clash. Lastly, we place them into a durable non-fumigation plywood crate to avoid any possible damage during transportation.
With years of experience shipping our products worldwide, we could guarantee to ship our products to their final destinations intact and without any damage.
Doorwin is one of the most professional window & door manufacturers are known for its great customized products. In Doorwin, a variety of colors, styles, and sizes of products are available to meet the client’s unique requirements. We own three ISO9000-certified modern factories in China. With a factory area of 20,000 m2 and a production capacity of 100,000 m2 per year. Doorwin Group has the scale to ensure timely delivery and the flexibility to reduce manufacturing lead times to as short as 18 days.
Awning Windows
Bay & Bow Windows
Casement Windows
Creak Out Casement Windows
Specialty Shape Windows
Picture Windows
Single Double Hung Windows
Tilt & Turn Windows
Sliding Windows
Bi-Fold Windows
Gliding Patio Doors
Bi-Fold Doors
Lift and Slide 
Entry Doors
Swinging Doors
Pivot Doors
Garage Doors
Interior Doors
