Photos 03 Aug 2008 08:04 am
PhotoSunday: Windows
- There was a short article in the New Yorker recently about someone in New York who had a shark tank in a window which was visible to pedestrians from the street. This had me wonder about windows and how much we could see within windows from the street. Generally, speaking.
The answer is not very much, and I actually wondered about that shark tank. I’d thought about this subject before this point. Standing at a bus stop on 30th Street and Park Avenue, one could look into a picture window I’d seen quite a few times. I was never quite sure whether it was an office or an apartment, and in all the years I’ve gazed into that window, I haven’t seen any people. Nor have I seen the interesting furniture moved about. The place looks like what one might think an old time editor’s office would look like. This makes me think it’s probably a living loft for someone.
For the most part there’s an enormous glare coming off windows and, fortunately for the sake of privacy, we can’t see very much of the interiors of these apartments. However there are all sorts of windows out there and they all look very different while, in another sense, they all look the same.
I suppose we can blame housing regulations for this. In the not too distant past, the City dictated that all landlords would be responsible for making windows energy efficient. There seems to be only one brand of window that fits this category (at least they all look alike – except for color) and almost all windows seem to have filled this bill.
To the left an older wood style window that isn’t very energy efficient
and is in the extreme minority among windows.
The right shows a newer casing that has been given some small sense of design.
This isn’t generally what you see.
The standard is less attractive from outside. Whether they move up and down (L)
or slide left and right (R) they’re not very pleasing, aesthetically speaking.
Many windows depend on the tenant to dress them up with plants and such (L),
however some older buildings have attractive lintels that
merge with these newer casings (R).
French shutters (that don’t seem to close – they’re just for dressing)
helps hide the standardized casings.
There are some attractive variations such as
the french style window that opens inward (L)
or the casing can open outward (R) – a bit less interestingly.
There’s also the shape of the window. I imagine these are much harder to
maintain or replace. I’m also not sure the casing is energy efficient.
But they sure are pretty.
Similar type windows appear midtown, but they’re probably more likely office windows.
Of course, in the older midtown office buildings there are plenty of attractive windows
that have been well maintained (despite the signage.)
There are also plenty of ugly windows even though the building, itself, was
obviously attractive at one time. Disrepair has set in like an old subway station.
I’d hoped to find that shark tank from the street level, as the New Yorker article
suggested, but it’s not quite that obvous to the pedestrian. I couldn’t find it.
I did find this house in construction (or is it deconstruction?).
Perhaps, the shark got loose and ate his way out of the building?
on 03 Aug 2008 at 5:26 pm 1.Tom Sito said …
In the years since I moved away from New York, part of the fun of returning for visits is looking at the city with a fresh eye.
One thing I’ve noticed lately is the custom many Manhattanites have of leaving their windows shades wide open at night with lights on, with the contents inside for all to see. Be they on a first floor apt. or a twentieth. Is it showing off? Mild voyeurism? Or a celebration of urban communal culture.
In Los Angeles wide lawns, high walls and buildings turned away from the street around an internal courtyard are the norm. New Yorkers seem to be saying, “look and see all the cool stuff I have!”
on 04 Aug 2008 at 7:40 am 2.Stephen Macquignon said …
I have past that window above the Subway sandwich place and wonder my self who works there, I always thought of some little old man who wears a gray sweater even in July.
As for some of these new Buildings going up were the windows are from floor to sealing I once seen a man working at his computer in is underwear and wished I never looked up.
on 04 Aug 2008 at 12:08 pm 3.Eddie Fitzgerald said …
Nice essay! There’s some good modern windows but they tend to be pricey and require the owner to modify the shape of the space they’ll fit into. The average cheap modern window that slides right and left is terrible.
I like sash windows myself. They’re a drag to paint because every once in a while you have to remove the old paint and start again, otherwise the old paint gets that lumpy, melted look. The internal pulley system also breaks down. Even so, it’s worth the trouble.
Interesting comment by Tom about open windows in the big city.