15 Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know About Windows

1. Before glass, windows were commonly made of paper, cloth, animal hide, flattened pieces of animal horn or thin slices of marble (wikipedia.org).

2. The first known “glass” windows were likely produced in about 100 A.D. by the Roman Egyptians. These windows were extremely thick and almost impossible to see out of. It would be almost a millennia before windows became as transparent as we now know them.

3. In the late 1600s, glass windows were considered a luxury, and even the wealthiest only had windows in their most important rooms. Windows were so prized that aristocrats who were away for months visiting their other estates would have their windows taken down and stored in their absence (apartmenttherapy.com).

4. Glass windows only became common in homes in the early 17th century.

5. While it is estimated that the average US home has about 8 windows, the White House boasts a crazy 147. This is no match for the Buckingham Palace, which has approximately five times as many windows, coming in at a whopping 760 (worldsgreatestwindow.com).

6. In San Jose, California, the Winchester House is a mysterious and famous home once owned by the widow named Sarah Winchester. Creepily, the woman’s favorite number was 13. This number is denoted throughout the house, including many rooms housing 13 windows. (worldsgreatestwindow.com).

7. At one point, homes in Amsterdam were taxed based on the number and size of windows on their façade. The larger the windows, the higher the taxes. (bringingbeautyhome.com).

8. The Empire State Building is 102 stories high and has 6,500 windows.

9. Stained glass windows are a staple in churches and cathedrals. The method used to making stained glass is the exact same today as it was when it was originally created in the middle ages. (lead-windows.co.uk)

10. Even in good weather, it takes window cleaners an average of about 1 month to clean the entire Hearst tower in New York City from top to bottom. (ny.curbed.com).

11. Considered the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, in Dubai houses an amazing 34,348 windows (burjkhalifa.ae).

12. The Latin word for window is fenestra, and can also be translated as “hole in the wall,” “loop hole,” “opening for light,” or “opportunity.” Makes sense, when you think about the silly saying, “If a door closes and another doesn’t open, go out the window!”