Jalousie window

For the song Jalousie, see Jalousie 'Tango Tzigane'.
Glass jalousie windows and storm door, common on mid-20th-century homes in warm climates.
Wooden jalousies were chosen in 1946 by Ian Fleming for his Jamaica estate, Goldeneye
Glass jalousies viewed from outside.

A jalousie window US /ˈdʒæləsiː/ or louvre window (Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, UK) is a window composed of parallel glass, acrylic, or wooden louvers set in a frame. The louvers are joined onto a track so that they may be tilted open and shut in unison to control airflow, usually by turning a crank.

Design

A patent for a basic louvered window was applied for in the US by a Joseph W. Walker, of Malden, Massachusetts, in 1900 and granted Nov. 26, 1901, as Patent # 687705. A highly popular hand-cranked glass, aluminum and screen window combination was designed by American engineer Van Ellis Huff and found widespread use in temperate climates before the advent of air-conditioning.[1]

Use

Jalousie windows maximise natural ventilation by allowing airflow through the entire window area. Historically made only of wooden slats or glass panes, they are well suited to mild-winter climates. With mass production they became very common throughout homes in mid-20th-century Florida, Hawaii, southern California, the deep South, and Latin America. In cooler regions they were rapidly adopted to porches and sunrooms. They were also widely used in mobile homes during the 1950s and 1960s before most manufacturers began switching to sliding and sash windows in subsequent decades.

An additional advantage of jalousie windows is the ability to leave them at least partway open in most heavy rains, maintaining desirable ventilation whether a sun shower or prolonged tropical storm. On the downside, traditional style louvered windows offer poor overall resistance to water penetration and drafts. They also are difficult to positively secure, as their slats are easily and silently removed.

Modern jalousies, however, may be high performance, architectural windows, and have been featured in award-winning buildings.[2]

Jalousies with extremely wide louvered panels (of six inches and more) are sometimes called awning windows.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE5DD143CF935A25751C1A961948260 Official New York Times Obituary
  2. ↑ "Project". Breezway. Retrieved 31 December 2013.