The Gothic Window
Gothic windows are defined primarily by their pointed arch head, which distinguishes them from the flat-headed or segmental-arched windows of classical architecture. Within this basic form, there is enormous variety: the simple lancet window (tall, narrow, steeply pointed); the paired lancet with trefoil piercing above; the larger traceried window with complex stone or timber pattern-work filling the upper portion; and the bay window with pointed arch heads to its individual lights. Each form has slightly different architectural associations and different practical implications for a residential context.
Lancet windows are the most easily introduced into existing residential buildings because their tall, narrow form fits within standard wall openings. A standard rectangular window can sometimes be replaced with a lancet without structural modification if the arch can be formed within the existing opening. More complex traceried windows typically require a larger opening and more substantial structural work.
Restoring Original Gothic Windows
Many Victorian gothic houses retain their original windows in altered or damaged condition — replacement with inappropriate modern designs being the most common problem. Restoring original gothic windows involves: identifying the original form from historic photographs or surviving examples elsewhere in the building; replicating or restoring the original glazing bar pattern in timber or steel; replacing inappropriate glazing with glass of appropriate character (for Victorian buildings, slightly textured glass rather than perfectly clear modern float glass reads more authentically); and repainting in appropriate colours.
Stained glass in gothic windows — even simple geometric designs in a limited colour palette — can transform the character of a room dramatically. Replacing clear glazing in gothic windows with stained glass, or adding stained glass panels to the upper lights of existing windows while retaining clear lower lights for practical outlook, is one of the most effective gothic architectural interventions available without structural work.
Introducing Gothic Arches in Existing Homes
Pointed arch openings can be introduced in existing homes in several ways, with different degrees of structural impact. The simplest approach is the application of a plaster or timber arch surround to an existing flat-headed opening — this changes the visual character of the opening without altering its structural form. More authentic is the formation of a true pointed arch within or above an existing opening, which requires structural advice but is often feasible.
Internal arch openings — between a hall and a living room, between a kitchen and a dining room, or in the openings of built-in shelving — can be formed with relatively modest structural work and have a transformative effect on the gothic character of a house. The arch form should be consistent throughout the house where possible — the same pointed profile used for all arched openings creates visual unity and a sense of coherent design.
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