Famous Windows From Around the World
Windows are seemingly almost an omnipresent feature of human history. Truthfully, no one knows when the first “window” was invented. The answer to that lies primarily in one’s definitions; if windows are defined by their use of glass, then the early modern period is probably identifiable as their birthplace. If, however, an opening to permit the passage of light is enough, then we’d be guessing completely.
Here, we take a look at some of the world’s most famous windows, and, for argument’s sake, we’ll apply the second definition.
The Pantheon
One of Rome’s most popular tourist attractions today, Pantheon used to serve as a temple. Now, it remains a church and is the largest unreinforced solid concrete dome in the world. Its most identifiable feature, perhaps, is its “eye’, which lies in the centre of the dome. This relatively small hole allows a circle of light to form on the church’s floor and represents the only source of light for the building. Pantheon is a Greek word meaning “honour all Gods.” The building’s oculus, allows its occupants to do just that.
The Pope’s Window
A mere 2.3 kilometres down the road from the Pantheon, is the Pope’s window in St. Peter’s square. From here, the Pope greets and addresses pilgrims to the Vatican City on Sundays, and delivers the angelus. While the actual building surrounding the window may not be the most spectacular. They are frequently seen alongside God’s representative on earth and the number of people to have seen it is likely unparalleled.
The Vostok Porthole
The window through which the human race first saw the earth from outer space, the Vostok Porthole has been through a lot. Yuri Gagarin saw the world for the first time from outer space during Russia and America’s “space race” in the 1960s. Although famous windows conjure up images of spectacular glass features, if we’re going by our previously mentioned definition, this definitely counts. Both the number of people who know about the “space race” and the significance of what’s been seen through it bring the Vostok Porthole onto our exclusive list.
Sainte-Chappelle
The Sainte-Chappelle is a thirteenth-century cathedral in Paris, featuring fifteen enormous, stunning stained glass windows. These famous windows are so colossal that virtually none of the cathedral’s interior is made from stone. Instead, the colourful glass makes up almost the entirety of the walls. Lots of what you can see on the windows come from the Bible and were made in honour of the Christian faith
Nasir Al-Mulk
Moving away from Europe, the windows at Nasir Al-Mulk in Tehran are among the most spectacular in the world. Adding to the overall effect of these windows is the element of surprise. From the outside, the mosque does not appear particularly unusual. When inside, though, the colours from the stained glass windows create a spectacular rainbow effect. Throughout the interior, bright colours litter the corridors, pillars and walls, creating a truly breathtaking scene.
Bingley Windows
We hope that our brief tour through some of the world’s most famous windows has inspired you to give your own some attention. Whilst Bingley Windows hasn’t (yet!) produced anything quite like the Sainte-Chappelle, we have completed a huge number of impressive projects, and provide outstanding window services to our valued customers.
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