Featured image credit: Banjoman1
While there are myriads of types of windows for home design and decor peering forth from the facades of LA’s various abodes, one style is becoming rarer, despite its rampant popularity amongst mid-century modern architects. You might be lucky enough to spot one, typically punctuating a porch or sunroom with history, distinguished by horizontal slats of glass that can be angled open much like Venetian blinds. The style is most commonly known as the jalousie window. And it may offer one of the most authentic connections to the city’s mid-century modern past.
What Defines a Jalousie Window?
The jalousie window can be easily recognized by its horizontal glass slats, set into a frame, and operated with a hand crank that pushes the slats open or closed. Mid-century modern designers prized the jalousie window for its clean lines, geometric minimalism, and complementary, clean look. The word “jalousie” in French literally translates to “jealousy”, an allusion to the window’s slats hiding home interiors from “jealous” eyes. Except, of course, the slats were typically crafted from glass, so they weren’t hiding much of anything. Perhaps it more likely stems from the Italian word “geloso”, which also means “screen.”
The Slow Rise of the Jalousie Window
The jalousie window is more suited to warm-climate architecture than most other types of windows for home designs, but it actually has its origins in Malden, Massachusetts, where its inventor, Joseph W. Walker, patented it at the end of 1901. However, Walker didn’t really get to enjoy the success of his design. The jalousie window didn’t really catch on with architects until the middle of the 20th century.
But when it took off, it took off. Sales of the jalousie window started to surge in the late 1940s, but maintained popularity well into the ‘60s. This was particularly true in cities with warmer climates in places like Florida, Hawaii, and, of course, Southern California.
Popularity Among Types of Windows for Home Designs in Warmer Climates
It’s pretty easy to understand the success of the jalousie window, especially when compared to other types of windows for home designs, in warmer regions. Remember, central air conditioning was uncommon in the middle of the 20th century. However, jalousie windows permitted breezes to filter through stuffy homes without obstructing pleasant views. Jalousie windows offered the perfect antidote to sweltering Los Angeles summer days, airing out enclosed porches and sunrooms. They also contributed to that all-too-Californian blurring of indoor-outdoor living.
The Insurmountable Vulnerabilities of the Jalousie Design
Yet, jalousie windows were far from perfect. For one, they left homes prone to burglary. It would only take a halfway clever thief to recognize how the glass slats could be easily pried open and removed with minimal noise. And as this weak point became common knowledge, sales of jalousie windows took a hit. While jalousie windows could be effectively used to shield from rain while open, allowing for improved ventilation, rain was too rare an occurrence in Southern California to give the design any reprieve.
Then, as air conditioning units became more prominent, jalousie windows became synonymous with astronomical energy bills. The open slats allowed the cooler air to escape and rendered weatherstripping practically impossible. Those who invested in air conditioning quickly lost their love for the jalousie window design. The energy crises of the 1970s further illuminated the impracticality of these types of windows for home insulation and heat loss. As consumers turned en masse to sealed window types, the jalousie style faded further into obscurity.
Novel Relics
You can still find some original jalousie windows in well-preserved homes around the LA area, often set into the facade of an enclosed porch or sunroom. They’re more prominent in homes that adopt mid-century modern, Art Deco, or even ranch-style designs. The presence of these window types can even hint at a home’s era of construction and history.
Yet, the novelty of these types of windows for home decor wears off quickly due to their impracticality. It’s why the majority of original jalousie windows were replaced with dual-pane models long ago. Jalousie windows just can’t muster the security and efficiency of modern window designs. But they definitely had a smart look that still makes them an occasional choice among homeowners who prioritize fashion over function (and affordable electric bills).
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