ROLE OF WINDOWS IN VISUAL IMAGERY

OF A BUILDING
AMIT SHELKE FINAL YR.PART: II ,B.ARCH. P.I.A.D.S ,NAGPUR

GUIDE LECT.M.V. GOKHALE

AIM - To establish role of window as an element in visual imagery of a
building .
Window to the building are as eyes to the face. They are the visual links between inside and
the outside of the world
lintel

hinge
stile
Safety bars

architrave

shutter

frame

jamb

sill
 Typological variation

 Perforation (jaali)

 Casement

 Dormer window

 Bay window
 Perforation
(jaali)

In situation where privacy, harsh sunlight and

ventilation are primary concerns there the
window takes form of perforated screens or
small-embedded apertures, these offer
controlled visual connection and light without
affecting ventilation.
 Casement
THIS IS THE REGULAR PLANAR OPENING
PUNCTURING A FLAT WALL TO
GENERATE THROUGH CONNECTION
WITH ADJUSTABLE SHUTTERS FOR
LIGHT, AIR AND VISUAL
COMMUNICATION AS PER THE
REQUIREMENT.
dormer
 bay
A PROJECTED ALCOVE IN THE WALL
CREATING A SUBSPACE OF ITS OWN,
THIS WINDOW THRUSTS OUTWARDS
WITH THE OPENING ON THREE SIDES .

EXTEND FLOOR SPACE.

 FUNCTIONS

 APERTURE FOR LIGHT

 PASSAGE FOR AIR

 COMMUNICATION LINK

 TRANSPARANCY AND POROSITY

 IMAGEMAKER

 Facade MODULATOR

 SCALING ELEMENT
APERTURE FOR LIGHT
Windows with varying size and opacity dramatize the space within
PASSAGE FOR AIR

the position of window in the space determine and govern the air movement

Dormer window typical example

for passage of light and air
Puncture for air in traditional dwelling
 COMMUNICATION LINK

Window as screen wall for one way communication

Outside to inside inside to outside

THE LOCATION AND SCALE OF WINDOW INFLUENCE THE TYPE AND INTENSITY OF VISUAL COMMUNICATION
Transparency And Porosity
 Transparency and porosity

With the porosity created by articulation of opening ,the building acquires lightness and transparency
Windows position changing in different instances ,creating varied transparency
inside the space

Multiple openings in one Opposite direction

direction

Opposite direction All four directions

Scaling element
 Scaling element

Window unit give us an idea how large is the building and how many stories it has. if oversized can be use to
deliberately alter our perception
Scaling element

Windows with same size and

shape

Create a scale within composition

of facade

Windows with different size and

shape

Create another scale within the

composition of facade
Facade modulator
 facade modulator

Different modulations of openings contribute to the visual appearance And disciplined relationship of the building
facade
Hawa mahal jaipur

With unique characterization

windows create a built space having
sculptural quality

Hawamahal ,jaipur
With formal language and rhythm the
built space gains significance

Casa Mila ,Barcelona

facade modulator

RIBBON WINDOWS
MODULATING THE FACADE
PROFILE HORIZONTALLY

SLITSS MODULATING THE

FACADE PROFILE VERTICALLY
Cathedral,rheims Villa savoye, France
Image making
Form and characteristics of the opening assist in establishing building identity and
projecting unique symbolic quality

CHAITYA WINDOW,AJANTA CAVES

Window often becomes a key element in the visual imagery of a building. windows frame views and also ge
framed within the facade surface

siddi sayad jali,ahmedabad

Often building gets identified and recognized by the image portrayed by these characteristic
window.

NEWAR WINDOW NEPAL

Case study : IIM ahmedabad architect louis.i.kahn

The academic complex is surrounded on two sides by the student hostel and faculty housing resulting in
variety of courts n squares.
Wall and roof
size
form
number
placement
 Composition of opening rendering individuality to complete complex

Arches are used to generate voids for windows and other apertures for variety of purposes
The circular window behaves as an image maker for entire complex
The deep recesses and openings Are the varied
devices to control natural light, permit
ventilation and modulation of built mass
a. b.

A- Window as an eye

B- Window marking the visual

references

C- Opening framing the

view
c.
Scaling element
 facade modulator

Scaling element
 imagemaker

facade modulator

Scaling element
Conclusions
• WINDOWS BECOME A KEY ELEMENT IN SUB SCALING THE BUILDING MASS AND
THE SPACE OUTSIDE.

• WITH UNIQUE CHARACTERIZATION WINDOWS CREATE A BUILD SPACE HAVING

SCULPTURAL QUALITY.

• VARIOUS SCALES OF WINDOW ATTRIBUTES UNIQUE AESTHETIC QUALITY TO

FACADE.

• THE SHAPE ,SIZE GROUPING ,PLACEMENT ,FORM ETC VARY THE SCALE OF THE
FACADE BY BRINGING IT DOWN TO HUMAN SCALE OR ADD MONUMENTALITY TO
FACADE.

• WINDOW ATTRIBUTES TRANSPARENCY AND POROSITY TO WALL SURFACE.

 THANKS

liography
ments Of Space making- Yatin Pandya
chitecture Form Space And Order - Francis D.K.Ching
kipedia.Org, Www.Flickr.Com