CIVIL ARCHITECTURE. 



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windowi 

 should be 



lillert. 



PUT* 



cxc. 



destination of apartment!; the thickncii of the walls, nd 

 the number and distribution of the windows themselves. 

 Much also hat hitherto depended upon the fashion of the 

 time* ; from the small proportion of ancient aperture 

 until the slender masonry of the wills of Gothic edifices 

 became merely frame* for receiving the glas. In mo- 

 dern structures, where rectangular forms are empl 

 the breadth of the apertures serves to regulate that of 

 the piers, though considerable latitude has been taken ; 

 ret, in pi iiu walls, the most general practice limits the 

 breadth of piers to be the same, or one and a half that 

 of the aperture; the former, when circumstances admit, 

 appears the most perfect ; but these proportions must, 

 of course, be occasionally varied, to admit of external 

 and internal decorations. The till* of windows should 

 be placed at a height above the level of the floor, to form 

 convenient parapet, but not obstruct the view ; and 

 this is varied from two feet and a half to three feet and 

 a half. In elegant apartments, the sills are frequently 

 on a level with the floor, or a step or two above it ; in 

 the latter case, the heights of the apertures are made 

 more than double their breadth. It ia common in dif- 

 ferent stories to have different heights, decreasing in the 

 upper stories, until in attics they are made under a single 

 square ; this, when economy leads to makiiig the upper 

 stories very low, is unavoidable ; but when elegance of 

 external appearance ia studied, the upper windows should 

 be made the tallest. Windows ought to be placed ver- 

 tically above each other, and not too near the angles of 

 the building. Where the walls are thick, their jambs 

 may be splayed or bevelled ; that is, to make an acute 

 angle with the front line, in order to admit more light 

 into the apartments. In northern climates, sky lights 

 ought, as much as possible, to be avoided, as being li- 

 able to admit cold air, rain, and snow. Where they are 

 necessary to light halls and staircases placed in the cen- 

 tral parts of the structure, the architect would do well 

 to contrive that the lights be fixed in a perpendicular 

 direction, and be properly protected on the top. An 

 odd number of windows in the same front is preferable 

 to an even number ; for as it is requisite to have the en- 

 trance-door in the middle of the length, an even num- 

 ber, regularly disposed, would cause a pier to be over 

 the doorway, which is inadmissible. An odd number is 

 also preferable in a large apartment, as a pier would cast 

 a gloom in the middle part of the floor. In edifices of 

 importance, windows are usually ornamented in the same 

 manner as doors, and subject to similar observations. If 

 attics are introduced, instead of leaving the windows, as 

 has hitherto been the practice, plainer than those below, 

 they should, in our opinion, be rendered a part of an 

 ornamental member, to be continued along the upper 

 part of the whole line of front. Mixtures of windows 

 of different shapes is in general to be avoided ; but if a 

 Venetian window is to be introduced, it should be insu- 

 lated by a break or some other device ; the entablature 

 should be continued along the top of the pillars which 

 form the divisions, and that even if an arched opening 

 be necessary over it. In winter apartments in cold coun- 

 tries, two sets of sashes are placed in the- thickness of the 

 walli. The mode of preparing, constructing, and fix- 

 ing the frames, sashes, linings, shutters, and dressings, 

 will be detailed in the article JOINERY. 



A CHIMNEY (See Plate CXC.) consists of an aper- 

 ture in the wall, to receive a stove or grate, with fire to 

 beat the apartment ; and on this account it is also na- 

 med a Fire-place. From it a vacant space, named a vent, 

 shaft, or flue, is carried, within the thickness of the wall, 

 lo the level of the top of the roof, to convey away the 



smoke. The bottom of the fire-place should be laid with 

 square tiles, stone, marble, or an iron plate, in order to 

 receive the cinders and ashes j this is termed the Inner 

 hearth. Upon a level with this, or a little above it, and 

 immediately before the fire-place, a space equal in length 

 to the breadth of the chimney, and about two feet in 

 breadth, should be laid with the same sort of material* 

 as the inner hearth ; it is termed the S!nf>, and is laid 

 either in a wooden boxing, containing sand and mortar, 

 or upon a flat brick arch, which has been turned between 

 the wall and a trimming-joist in the floor. The front 

 and vertical sides of the chimney aperture are termed 

 Jnmbs, and are composed of stone, marble, wood, or iron. 

 The part which reaches across the top of the aperture i* 

 called the Mantle, and is of the same sort of materials as 

 the jambs. As in thin walln, the part which the chim- 

 ney occupies is projected into the room, in this, what is 

 over the chimney, is termed the Breast. Within the 

 fire-place, the parts which reach between the jambs and 

 back, are named Covings. Where the space is contract- 

 ed from the size of the fire-place to that of the flue, it is 

 called the Gathering nings, or Throat. The portion ot 

 the chimney which rises above the roof, is named the 

 Chimney lop. Where several flues, either in the wall or 

 at the top, approach very near each other, the partitions 

 between them are named JVithi ; and the whole is term- 

 ed a Slack. In rooms of ordinary dimensions, the flues, 

 in rough stone walls, are from 12 to !! inches square; 

 in hewn stone or brick -work, about 10 by 14 inches ; 

 but the section must be enlarged in rooms of large di- 

 mensions, kitchens, &c. As soot is apt to gather in the 

 angles of square flues, the circular form is preferable. 

 They should be made quite smooth within, and free of 

 quick bendings. It is of advantage to have the flues a great 

 height ; but if raised much above the level of the roof, 

 it is difficult to render them ornamental. Inigo Jones is 

 the only British architect who has performed it with 

 success. 



As much of the comfort of an apartment depends up- 

 on its being free of smoke, and much economy in causing 

 the heat to be reflected into the room, instead of suffer- 

 ing it to be unnecessarily absorbed by the materials, or 

 dissipated in the flue, &c. great attention is necessary in 

 fitting up the fire-place. For economy, stone which will 

 stand the fire, is preferable to metal. The side covings 

 should be levelled, or wholly circular ; and the opening 

 at the back of the fire-place into the throat should not 

 exceed four inches in breadth ; frequently one inch and 

 a half is sufficient. With register-stoves this can be re- 

 gulated to great advantage. The throat part should fall 

 back from this aperture, and, in general, no air should 

 be admitted into the throat, but what passes over the 

 fire ; it is therefore advisable to fit up the fire-place very 

 accurately, and place the front of the grate forward to 

 the line of the face of the wall of the apartment. In 

 countries where stoves are used, it is customary to place 

 them altogether before the face of the wall. This ad- 

 mits of much decoration, and also throws the greatest 

 part of the heat into the room. 



Chimneys have always been considered important fea- 

 tures, but the style of decoration has varied greatly in 

 different ages. In the Norman castles, they were fre- 

 quently large, and accompanied by rude pillars, sculp- 

 tures, and ornamented mouldings. After the revival of 

 Roman architecture, the whole space between the fire- 

 place and the ceilings, called the chimney breast, was co- 

 vered with architectural decorations of great labour and 

 expence. Wood was succeded by stucco work and or- 

 namented paanels, to receive paintings ; but of late these 



