(Yep, even the Landmark Preservation Committee approves faux muntins.) Now that double-strength (insulating) windows are the norm, White says SDLs are much more prominent than TDLs-including in landmark properties. The juxtaposition of classical and contemporary creates an elegant structure rooted in a deep knowledge of the local vernacular," Coburn says. White says Historic Windows just did a Tribeca cast-iron building, "which you might think is just a replica of a 200-year-old window but in reality is a high-performance window with sound insulation, energy-efficient glass that's still respecting the architectural detail of the building."Ībsolutely. In the Cobble Hill townhouse above, The Brooklyn Studio combined traditional details with modern techniques, which is "especially apparent in the building’s windows: the lintels and sills are made of brownstone, while the oriel window and rear bay are made of steel and glass. This same design language was then applied to the three-story bay window (it extends to the garden level), replacing the traditional bay window, which had large mullions and small panes, with modern curvilinear panes that extend from floor to ceiling. Referencing the same project, he explains that the addition of the wrap-around window was inspired by the observation windows found on early 20th century passenger trains and is a subtle nod to the home's era. "Mullions can be structural, but in this image they are not-they are only holding the separate window units together and stiffening the overall curtain wall," Coburn says. And they have applications for all types of windows-double-hung, casement, tilt and turn, fixed, you name it.įor example, in the photo at top, the wrap-around window on the first level and the three-story bay windows have vertical mullions and the bays also have slim horizontal muntins. And if you live in a historic district, good luck getting new windows approved without them (more on this below).īut muntins and mullions have modern applications, too, with the lines forming all manner of patterns, including asymmetrical iterations. The classic four- or eight-light window has certainly stood the test of time and is for many people the default, especially if the rest of the building skews toward tradition. White for instance prefers to refer to windows with muntins as either TDLs (true divided lites) or SDLs (simulated divided lites)-which can add to the architectural jargon confusion. Since then, they've continued to evolve and take on new iterations as well as terminology. Mullions were required to support the structure of the heavy stone and brick facades around the openings.īy the time massive sheets of glass could be made and shipped without risk of breaking, the look of windows with these details had caught on-and muntins began to mostly be used for visual interest, while even mullions were no longer always essential supports given advances in building technology. As Clai White, principal of renovation and restoration company Historical Windows of New York, explains it, before the Victorian era, it was impossible or impractical to fabricate large sheets of glass, so muntin rods allowed people to cobble smaller panes into larger grid patterns. Originally muntins and mullions were borne out of necessity. Both are commonly made of wood, steel, or aluminum and can run vertically or horizontally. It's easy to get these two elements confused because they both divide a window into segments, only in different ways.Īccording to Brendan Coburn, principal of architecture and design firm The Brooklyn Studio, muntins divide panes of glass (called lites) within a window frame or window unit.
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