Window grills are in vogue. They can be made of different materials to enhance the facade of the building.
Window grills are in vogue. They can be made of different materials to enhance the facade of the building.
I have been writing in the last few articles about the ‘window’ – one of the most environmentally sustainable features of a building. In this article I’m looking at a key element of a window – the grillwork.
A ‘grill’ or ‘grill’ is a French word derived from the Latin ‘creticula’ which means a small grill or grate. It was originally in the form of multiple slit openings in a wall, metal sheet or other barrier to create a breezeway and deter animals and intruders. Window ‘grills’ have historically been seen all over the world in various forms and patterns.
In India, as early as 900 AD, the Kalleswara Temple in Karnataka incorporated intricately carved, ornamental window grilles in stone. Carved stone grilles were also a common feature of Indo-Islamic architecture in the early 1100s. Highly ornate stucco window grilles were seen in Egypt from the 1300s as part of Mamluk architecture, which included a desire to visually dominate the urban environment.
With the advent of wrought iron and cast iron, its use for window grills became common. Known as window guards in the 19th century, these wrought iron grills offered a sense of security without the feeling of confinement. The ability to mold these materials into decorative patterns also provided opportunities for intricate ornamental grilles that enhanced the aesthetics of buildings. The straight iron bars were adorned with ornamental cast flowers, tassels or medals. Created by skilled craftsmen, this art of window grillwork offered employment and promoted handicrafts.
Initially popular in Europe and America, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, locally produced cast iron grillwork became common in Calcutta. Initially local blacksmiths used European design patterns to make cast iron grills. Soon the designs moved to Indian motifs and patterns.
Today unfortunately, with the shift in contemporary architecture, we seem to have forgotten history, when the focus was on making building elements not only functional but also adding a touch of artistic charm. In some cases fixed glazing in fully air-conditioned buildings has led to the complete disappearance of window grilles. As open windows that facilitate natural ventilation are an important strategy to make our buildings more sustainable, especially in the post-pandemic world, it is time to make window grilles an important part of building facades. be seen as an element.
The good news is that now some design firms are focusing on restoring and preserving old buildings and recreating building elements to match traditional designs and styles. This will gradually increase the awareness of our rich architectural heritage and consequently incorporate such features in a contemporary manner.
Due to the technology available today and wrought iron being very expensive, it is possible to make window grills using various materials such as GFRC (Glass Reinforced Fiber Concrete), terracotta and sheet metal in addition to metal rods. Decorative grilles salvaged from old buildings can be given a new lease of life in new buildings.
Since the window grille is an important aesthetic element, we must think of creating innovative patterns that will not only create interesting light and shadow patterns but also serve as a unique feature for the building, apart from our current urban built environment. In addition to having a fascinating cultural element in .
The author is the founder of Green Evolution, a sustainable architecture firm.