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Picture Windows, Chicago-Style

Classic window design brings in big views, fresh air and versatile style

John Hill January 19, 2012

Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City. I have Bachelor of Architecture and Master in Urban Planning degrees, and over ten years experience in architectural practice, split between Chicago and NYC. Currently I'm focused on writing and online pursuits. My daily blog can be found at http://archidose.blogspot.com

Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City. I have Bachelor... More

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Some strong images have stuck with me from growing up in a 1950s ranch house in the suburbs of Chicago. One is the view of the trees, cars, and neighbors' houses afforded by the large picture window in our living room. The style — double-hung windows flanking a central fixed pane — is often referred to as a Chicago window.

This ideabook collects a bunch of Chicago windows, in the city and far beyond. It is an assembly that allows generous views and daylighting while also providing for air and ventilation, important considerations in just about any place — and as we'll see, almost any room.

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mark pinkerton - vi360 photography

A view is probably the strongest justification for this type of picture window, and this one is a stunner. While I'm not sure if the windows astride the picture window are operable, their width puts the emphasis on the squarish central pane.

Traditional Living Room Traditional Living Room

It's clear that this picture window brings in lots of daylight, aided by the clerestory that straddles the fixed and operable windows below. While more traditional than the previous example, note how the windows extend close to the floor, making the wall almost completely glazed.

The large picture window at the end of this living room bring in light as well as some green; the latter is in the form of the bamboo that sits just outside.

The Chicago window can be traced to the city's tall buildings that dotted the Loop around the turn of the 20th century. Later high rises also used the window to structure curtain walls. This project takes advantage of a large picture window through the placement of the dining room table and the window treatment.

User

Here is another high rise with a picture window that takes advantage of the lake view.

Raveninside

This subtle variation on the Chicago window locates the operable window below the central pane.

Jones Design Build

Chicago windows aren't just for living rooms and bedrooms. Here is an example of a study that strategically orients the chair with a view out the central pane between hung windows. In my opinion, it's always good to have a spot to daydream while working.

Logan's Hammer Building & Renovation

Leaves fill a picture window in a eating area adjacent to the kitchen, looking much like a painting.

Divine Design Center

Kitchens are great rooms for variations on Chicago windows, ones that are shorter but also impressive in terms of views. Here one can enjoy the trees and water beyond while washing the dishes.

Neiman Taber Architects

Again we see the large fixed picture window above the sink.

Here is yet another example of a picture window above the sink. Plenty more glass is found to the left and right, but the operable windows are located by the sink to offer ventilation for the kitchen and whoever is doing all the work.

ACANTHUS Architecture & Design, San Francisco, CA

This shows what an amenity picture windows above sinks can be.

Elad Gonen

These last few examples show variations on the Chicago window. Here we see a bay with a corner window and an operable awning below the central fixed pane. The bay is deep enough to work as a bench, a nice perch for looking at the view.

Birdseye Design

Here is another bay with windows on the sides and operables below the large central pane. This low band of awning windows is just about at a person's head height while seated on the built-in, providing a cooling breeze.

Robert Young Architects

This example is two thirds of a Chicago window, as only one casement window flanks the large fixed pane. This seems appropriate, given the scale of the room and length of the wall. The horizontal aspect ratio of the picture window also makes sense, given the water view.

Modern Living Room Houzz Tour: Modern Bucktown Beauty

Last, we have two two-thirds windows with operables below fixed panes. This design almost eliminates the corner, and can be seen as one huge Chicago window that turns 90 degrees.

Next: More styles of picture windows

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John Hill

Bud - I've always associated the start of the Chicago window with the Reliance Building from five years before Carson Pirie Scott:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliance_Building
That's debatable, as looking it now, it appears that the terra cotta separation between the fixed and operable windows in the Reliance Building makes them separate openings. So it's not one overall window assembly like Carson Pirie Scott. Nevertheless the basic idea is there.

Like January 22, 2012 at 11:16AM