Vitruvius, in his fourth book, has laid down rules for Doric, Ionic, and Attic doors, all of which have their apertures narrower at the top than the bottom ; in these, tn. doors, when opened, shut of themselves ; and also in op ring, rise so as to clear a carpet, &c. These have also been partially introduced by modern architects, though this advantage is more generally obtained by other means.
It is a good proportion in small doors, to have their dimensions in the ratio of three to seven ; and in large doors, of one to two. Inside doors must be regulated by the height of the apartment to which they belong; there is, however, a limit in this respect, because the difficulty of opening and shutting is increased by its weight; and therefore single doors of private houses should not exceed three feet six inches in breadth. The lintels of doors should be on the same level with those of window s. But in magnificent houses, where all tile doors arc frequently thrown open, they may be from six to eight feet, made in two leaves or divisions : here the proportion will he less in height when compared to the breadth. file apertures of exterior doors, placed in blank arcades, have their lintels usually on a level with the imposts or springing of the arch.
The principal entrance door ought to be in the middle of the length of the building ; it divides the mass of front into more uniform portions ; and the hall, vestibule, &c. arc thereby placed in the centre of the apartments, to which they will have more convenient access, than if placed in any other situation. The doors which com municate between principal apartments, should be pla ced sufficiently distant from the side walls, to admit of furniture being placed there conveniently ; for preserv ing an uniform temperature in apartments, there should be double doors, that is, two in the thickness of the par tition wall.
For decorations to doorways, it is usual to have an ar chitrave up each side, and along the top ; and upon this is sometimes placed a frieze and cornice ; the ends of the cornice arc occasionally supported with trusses or consols, which stand upon the top of a pilaster. \\*hot the pilasters have bases and capitals, the projections art• always kept within that of the architrave ; the architrave over the capitals of the pilasters is similar to that of the door. Columns of some of the regulai orders arc some times introduced, supporting a regular entablature and pediments ; but these, though proper enough for exte rior, can scarcely be reckoned suitable for those that arc between interior apartments. Outside doors arc also frequently ornamented by rustic work ; but rustics being imitations of the unfinished work of the ancients, appear improper when applied as ornamental. Doorways arc also, in these northern climates, made in close porches, constructed in the shape of a part of a small Greek or Roman temple. When they arc of a rectangular form, they admit of a doorway, with sufficient regularity and conveniency ; but when circular, the' e is some trouble attending them ; because, unless the door is also circu lar, it cuts off a segment, which creates an awkward ap pearance; and, upon the whole, we will venture to af firm, that although doorways are highly susceptible of decoration, yet the ingenious architect may contrive some much more suitable than any of the Greek orders ; which being here so diminutive, arc totally divested of that dignity which is necessary to produce a striking ef fect.
The door itself is either framed, battened, or !edged, and the materials are wood or metal. Formerly, in Eng land, the doors were made of oak ; in most houses they are now made of deal, and in sonic cases of mahogany ; for strong closets, for books, writings, money, jewels, plate, Ste. the doors are made of cast iron. The an cients frequently constructed the doors of their temples of gold, silver, bronze, ivory, &c. As the particulars
respecting the modes of preparing and framing doors belong to JoINEUY, the reader will, under that term, find it defined and illustrated.
In Wisnows, (see Plates CLXXX VII. and CLX XX V 1 I l.), the size of the apertures depends chief ly on the circumstances of climate, aspect, proportion, and destination of apartments ; the thickness of the walk, and the number and distribution f) f the windows them selves. Much also has hitherto depended upon the fashion of the times ; from the small proportion of an cient aperture until the slender masonry of the walls or Gothic edifices became merely frames for receiving the glass. In modern structures, where rectangular forms arc employed, the breadth of the apertures serves to re gulate that of the piers, though considerable latitude has been taken ; yet, in plain walls, the most general practice !Units the breadth of piers to be the same, or one and a half that of the aperture ; the former, when circumstances ad mit, appears the most perfect ; but these proportions must, of course, be occasionally varied, to adn it of exter nal and internal decorations. The sills of win lows should be placed at a height above the level of the floor, to form a 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 ate 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 is common in different stories to have different heights, decreasing in the upper stories, '3 P '2 until in attics they arc made under a single square ; this, when economy leads to making the upper stories very low, is unavoidable ; but when elegance of external ap• pearance is studied, the upper windows should be made the tallest. Windows ought to be placed vertically above each other, and not too near the angles of the building. 1Vhere 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 pos sible, to be avoided, as being liable to admit cold air, rain, and snow. Where they are necessary to light halls and staircases placed in the central parts of the structure, the architect would do well to contrive that the lights be fixed in a perpendicular direction, and he properly pro tected 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 entrance-door in the middle of the length, an even number, 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 ornament ed in the same manner as doors, and subject to similar observations. If attics are introduced, instead of leav ing 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 continu ed along the upper part of the whole line of front. Mix tures of windows of different shapes is in general to be avoided ; but if a Venetian window is to be introduced, it should be insulated 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 arch ed opening be necessary over it. In winter apartments in cold countries two sets of sashes are placed in the thickness of the walls. The mode of preparing, con structing, and fixing the frames, sashes, linings, shut ters, and dressings, will be detailed in the article JOIN ERY.