Ribbon window
A wide window, introduced by Le Corbusier in his 1926-1927 “Five Points of Architecture,” which later became a hallmark of modern design. Along with the pilotis, roof garden, free plan, and free façade, the wide windows provided uninterrupted views and evenly distributed natural light throughout the building. By separating the frame structure from the exterior walls, windows are allowed to stretch horizontally across the façade. This design offers greater flexibility and a more open and modern architectural approach. Also known as a “ribbon window,” the wide window is discussed in depth in Bruno Reichlin’s The Pros and Cons of the Horizontal Window: The Perret-Le Corbusier Controversy (1984). Also called the horizontal window.
Texts From Articles (17)
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Terunobu Fujimori│008: The Ribbon Window of the Karuizawa Summer House—The Modernists’ Dream, Realized in Japan
In this series, architectural historian Terunobu Fujimori, who has traveled extensively to study buildings of various times and places, will be introducing a selection of notably intriguing windows fo…
20 Mar 2025
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Chochikukyo
Located in the foothills of Mount Tennozan, overlooking the headwaters of the Yodogawa River in Yama…
27 Feb 2025
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Summer House in Karuizawa
Relocated to Karuizawa Taliesin in 1986, this distinctive butterfly-roofed building was originally d…
27 Feb 2025
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Aichi University of the Arts Lecture Building
This building extends 110 meters in the north-south direction, establishing a strong axis at the hea…
27 Feb 2025
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KATONO House
Located on the outskirts of Sapporo, this single-story modernist building, constructed with weatheri…
27 Feb 2025
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Double Vision
Selecting “wallpaper” or organizing files on a “desktop” are now familiar acts that can either take place on our digital devices or in our living rooms. Through the screen’s interface, we gain access …
06 Jul 2023
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The Experimental Design of the KATONO House in Sapporo
Known as an experimental work of modern architecture tailored for Hokkaido’s climate, the KATONO House (Personal Residence) in Sapporo designed by renowned Hokkaido architect Tetsu Katono (1924–2009) …
12 Apr 2023
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A Conversation with Christine Binswanger, Raúl Mera (Herzog & de Meuron)
Herzog & de Meuron, the Basel-based architectural duo, founded their firm in 1978 after studying architecture at ETH Zurich. They have since designed numerous prominent projects worldwide, such as…
24 May 2023
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Conversation with EMI Architekten
Ron Edelaar, Elli Mosayebi, and Christian Inderbitzin founded EMI Architekten in Zurich in 2005. The office has developed a particular focus on housing and urban design in Switzerland through numerous…
15 Dec 2022
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No.0: Six Topics for Makoto Ueda’s Interpretation of the Window Space
To kick off the series “Vague Focal Space at the Window,” I interviewed Makoto Ueda, the former Editor in Chief of Toshi Jutaku (Urban Housing) and GA HOUSES. Here, Mr. Ueda has offered six examples t…
18 Apr 2022
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A Conversation with Peter Märkli
Peter Märkli, one of Switzerland’s leading architects, started his career after meeting his mentor, the architect Rudolf Olgiati. In 1978 he established his own studio, Studio Märkli, in Zurich. Since…
17 May 2021
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Rei Naito: Mirror Creation
Rei Naito is an artist who creates works that converse with the environments that surround them, posing the question “Isn’t simply existing on the earth a blessing in itself?” In the case of Mirror Cr…
02 Nov 2020
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Windows in Photography: Conversations with Iwan Baan, Takashi Homma and Yoshiharu Tsukamoto
Three panelists discuss how photography, architecture, and windows are interrelated. They are Iwan Baan, who has been photographing prominent architectural works by the world’s leading architect…
09 Apr 2020
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The Bauhaus and Its Influence in Japan
The Bauhaus, founded in 1919 in Weimar, Germany, laid the foundations for modern design with its innovative curriculum that embraced the abstract and constructivist trends of the time. Despite operati…
09 Jul 2021
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Part 1: Yoshiharu Tsukamoto “Window Behaviorology”
“Human behaviors are the best design resources.” Architect Yoshiharu Tsukamoto (Atelier Bow-Wow/Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology) has conducted “Window Behaviorology”, extensive site surveys o…
05 Nov 2018
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The Overhanging Village : Kinnaur District, India, Part 1
In the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh is a region inhabited by people known as the Kinnauris. It is a high-elevation region located in the northwest Himalayans, with the Tibet Autonomous Re…
14 Mar 2018
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Villa Le Lac
A continuous series of windows facing the water in the Villa Le Lac, designed by Le Corbusier for his mother. The eleven meter long windowsill projects into the room and can be decorated with a variet…
28 Nov 2014