View source for Oriel window

{{short description|Type of bay window}}
[[File:Maison_8_rue_des_Pucelles_à_Strasbourg_(2).jpg|thumb|Oriel window, [[Grande Île, Strasbourg]]]]
{{wikt | oriel}}

An '''oriel window''' is a form of [[bay window]] which protrudes from the main wall of a building but does not reach to the ground.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://architecture.about.com/library/blgloss-oriel.htm |title=What is an oriel window – Architecture Glossary<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-05-17 |archive-date=2005-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050918184121/http://architecture.about.com/library/blgloss-oriel.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Supported by [[corbel]]s, [[bracket (architecture)|brackets]], or similar [[cantilever]]s, an oriel window generally projects from an upper floor, but is also sometimes used on the ground floor.

== Etymology ==
According to the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'', the term ''oriel'' is derived from [[Anglo-Norman language|Anglo-Norman]] ''{{lang|xno|oriell}}'' and [[Late Latin]] ''{{lang|la|oriolum}}'', both meaning "gallery" or "porch", perhaps from [[Classical Latin]] ''{{lang|la|aulaeum}}'' ("curtain").

== History ==
{{needs expansion|date=May 2025}}

Oriel windows became popular in the 15th century. They allowed more sunlight into a room compared to conventional flat windows, and were therefore popular in northern countries such as England.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oriel {{!}} Gothic Revival, Windows & Glazing {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/oriel |website=Britannica |access-date=1 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref> They also could increase the usable space in a house without changing the footprint of the building.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Craven |first1=Jackie |title=What Are Those Beautiful Victorian Bay Windows? |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-an-oriel-window-177517 |website=ThoughtCo |access-date=1 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

Oriel windows are seen in [[Islamic architecture|Arab architecture]] in the form of [[mashrabiya]] and in Turkish are known as ''şahnişin'' or ''cumba''.  In [[Islamic culture]], these windows and balconies project from the street-front of a house, providing an area in which women could peer out and see the activities below whilst remaining out of line-of-sight.<ref>
KENZARI, B. and ELSHESHTAWY, Y. (2003), The Ambiguous Veil: On Transparency, the Mashrabiy'ya, and Architecture. Journal of Architectural Education, 56: 17–25. doi: 10.1162/104648803321672924</ref>

== Notable examples ==
* [[Oriel College, Oxford]], took its name from a balcony or oriel window forming a feature of a building which occupied the site the college now stands on.<ref>''[[University Challenge]]'', BBC TV. Broadcast 8 August 2016</ref>
* [[Oriel Chambers]] in [[Liverpool]] was a very controversial building when it was built, featuring an entire façade of glass oriel windows.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.orielchambers.co.uk/about|title= History|publisher= Oriel Chambers|access-date=23 November 2021}}</ref>
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== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:2014 Kłodzko, pl. Chrobrego 13 03.JPG|Oriel windows with elaborate detailing, [[Kłodzko]], [[Poland]]
File:Barnard Castle's round tower, 2007.jpg|A 15th-century oriel window at [[Barnard Castle]] in [[County Durham]], England.
File:Myrtle Street Flats (San Francisco).JPG|Oriel windows in [[San Francisco]], [[California]], USA
File:Prior Bolton Oriel Window.jpg|16th-century oriel window in the [[City of London]], [[St Bartholomew-the-Great|Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great]]
File:Bradford City Hall by J Illingworth.jpg|19th-century [[gothic revival|neo-gothic]] oriel window on [[Bradford City Hall]]
File:Bruges - Bay window.JPG|Masonry oriel window above a canal supported by [[corbel|corbelling]], [[Bruges]], Belgium
File:Perssonska gården (Gäddan 1) 2012-09-27 14-12-05.jpg|Ground-floor oriel window, [[Perssonska gården]], [[Hedemora]], [[Sweden]]
File:Oriel chambers.jpg|[[Oriel Chambers]], [[Liverpool]], by [[Peter Ellis (architect)|Peter Ellis]], 1864
File:Maison bleue.jpg| Massive half timbered oriel window on a pre-1581 house, [[Bouxwiller, Bas-Rhin]], Alsace, France
File:Świdwin wlz.JPG|Large masonry oriel window of District Office in [[Świdwin]], [[Poland]]
File:Gave Aspe Oloron-Sainte-Marie.jpg|Oriel windows with brackets in [[Oloron-Sainte-Marie]], France
File:Exeter College Bay Window in Turl Street.jpg|An oriel window in [[Turl Street, Oxford|Turl Street]] belonging to [[Exeter College, Oxford]]
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Bay window]] for more details
* [[Bow window]]
* [[Bretèche]]
* [[Turret (architecture)|Turret]] window

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category inline|Oriel windows}}
* {{Cite EB1911|noicon=1|wstitle=Oriel}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oriel Window}}
[[Category:Windows]]


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