It began with a small wind-eye; it grew and became one of the most important building elements of all. The first windows were inconspicuous and unprotected. Today they are complex structures that successfully perform several functions at once. They protect against burglars, reduce street noise, provide fresh air and let in daylight. Thanks to advanced frame constructions and effective thermal insulation glazing, modern windows increase the energy efficiency of the home. The window has undergone an astonishing evolution to develop from a breach in the masonry into an innovative, multifunctional building element.
Windows in transition - a history spanning millennia
Around 12,000 years ago, humankind built the first house. And it was soon confronted with a ventilation problem, because the house filled with toxic smoke and unpleasant odours. So people broke through the wall right at the top, just beneath the roof. The smoke could escape and the air improved. In keeping with its function, people called this hole "the wind-eye", and it is from this word that the English word for window - "the window" - derives. The German word "das Fenster" has its origin in Latin: "fenestra" meant something like "wall opening" or "gap".
In short: the first windows were nothing more than narrow openings; they served as a vent for fumes rather than as a source of light. They protected neither against cold nor against rain.
The first attempts to close off this opening with parchment or animal hides, and thereby keep out uninvited guests, proved unsatisfactory. That changed when glass entered the stage and turned the window into what it is today: a transparent yet reliable barrier between inside and out. The window brought light into the sparsely lit interiors and stood in the way of intruders. The window protected against unfavourable weather and also served for ventilation. In the late Middle Ages and the modern era, architects paid the window ever more attention, and it became an ornament.
Windows today - multitasking as a core competence
Windows in the 21st century do not even resemble the Germanic wind-eyes or the Roman fenestra. A window today is neither a simple wall opening nor an architectural ornament. Above all, today's window is a masterpiece of building technology. It is designed with contemporary requirements for maximum energy efficiency in mind, served chiefly by multi-chamber profiles, double or triple glazing and all-round seals. A modern window reliably keeps out rain and wind as well as annoying street noise.
The window hardware is easy to operate and at the same time makes the window an insurmountable obstacle for intruders.
The window welcomes the light and, thanks to its narrow face widths, offers an unobstructed view of the outside. But against excessive sunlight, too, today's window construction has a practical solution in the form of roller shutters. The window even protects against annoying insects with an insect screen.
For ventilation, a multitasking window likewise offers several solutions, including a special fitting with sensors that, when required, trigger the automatic closing and opening of a window.
Not all windows are alike
There are numerous different types of window. Some are chosen for practical reasons, others for stylistic ones. There is growing demand for individual dimensions, layouts and features tailored to the home, which have to be made to measure. Not only the shape can be determined according to one's own needs; colourful accents are also in demand for windows. Modern window glazing units are genuine high-tech products. They not only meet the highest requirements for thermal insulation but, depending on the version, can also perform important additional tasks in terms of fire protection, burglary protection and sound insulation.
Today, windows and doors are made from a variety of materials and finishes - uPVC, timber and aluminium, or combinations of the different materials. Almost anything is feasible, and every solution has its own advantages.
