Window Safari – Covers

"Windows in our environment are covered in an amount of ways.

These coverings can be organized into four types:

Momentary – Curtains, blinds.

Temporary – A piece of plywood, a plastic bag. 


Semi-permanent – A shop sign, foil to prevent peeking.

Permanent – A new wall. 


    All four types are represented in the pictures on the left, going 

from momentary–permanent. 

    The reasons for covering a window vary from environmental (sunlight), over functional (types of rooms) to cultural (privacy/needs) and economical (foreclosure/sale/renovation). The reason for the curtain on the bigger picture above is unknown, but its an interesting choice to cover a window that gives its building so much of its character." 

This theme can be explored further, as the question whether the unintended misuse of a window can be prevented. There are to main reasons for window covers as far as I see it; The first problem is, that with a building that has changed its function or use, the original design can no longer be sufficient as it was created for different purposes. If the character of the building changes, for example from office to apartment or from workshop to store, the design and character naturally must be changed to accompany the new needs and inhabitants. This is not a problem as much as it is a natural development and change. 

But the other problem is that of bad design. It might not be much of a problem in general, but the example I would like to propose, is that of curtains and blinds, two things but a general concept, I personally despise. They give the inhabitants of an otherwise harmonic building and well-balanced building, the possibility to destroy a whole façade just based on taste an personal preference. Also they create an unnatural form for privatism that I don't think belongs between people. 

If a building was designed with information from cultural preferences, geographic placement and temporary need, the permanence of the building would manifest itself, and the rooms could be used accordingly. If you could have a room for morning meetings where you would get no glare in your eyes, and a balcony to the south were you could enjoy the last rays of sun, and solved all problems that sunlight, people, general noise, etc. creates through a incorporated solution, the need for blinds and curtains would be minimal and the amounts hopefully diminish.