Growing up in the suburbs, it appeared that one out of every two homes had shutters … but not one of those shutters actually worked. Their purpose has been decorative, a means of evoking a style rather than doing what shutters traditionally do: modulate light and privacy, protect windows from rain and wind, and close off a building once the occupants are away.
But Baths which in fact work can still be seen in new buildings, be it in tropical climes or in ways they don’t even resemble shutters. What follows are many different shutter programs, from the traditional to the modern.
Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab
This vernacular French state building illustrates not only the purpose of shutters in action but also various programs. The top floor uses double shutters at every window, while downstairs the squarish window has been covered with only 1 shutter. The several doorways comprise shutters.
Philpotts Interiors
Moist, tropical ponds are ideal for walls, since the louvers can discard water and supply shade, all the while admitting breezes. Notice the two different types of shutters in this example: from the foreground are hinged shutters, but in the background are slipping shutters for a larger opening.
Frederick + Frederick Architects
Here’s an awning-type window camera which sheds water and provides shade when open. When closed, it protects the house in case of a hurricane.
Brown Glaws Contractors Nice Custom Homes
An inside view of a awning-type shutter, this time with louvers, clearly shows how the camera can declare filtered light, even as it protects the window.
This modern application features large sliding shutters in front of a terrace. The wood-slat shutters match the adjacent cladding to create a seamless wrapper for your house.
Sam Crawford Architects
This house in Australia features a horizontal corner window with a generous awning along with also a narrow shutter on the side. As the shutters close …
Sam Crawford Architects
. . .note how the piston arms tuck behind the awning …
Sam Crawford Architects
. . .and how the awning itself matches the wall …
Sam Crawford Architects
. . .to create a seamless wrapper once the shutters are closed.
mark gerwing
Another atypical application is this stair at a condo where shutters line either side. The mix of slipping and swing shutters serves to “regulate the public/private spectrum and to craft the amount of sunlight penetrating the upper and lower chambers,” according to the architect.
mark gerwing
Their positioning and variant at open/closed position also create interesting views round the skylit stair.
Bosworth Hoedemaker
And how about these large sliding doors? Shutters? No, but they serve a similar role, all the while opening the interior to the outside. What was solid and closed readily becomes transparent and open.