Thursday, 9/30/21

This week the team was focused on multiple moving parts, but one in particular was the installation of the Palladian window. There’s a lot of prep that goes into installing this window, including the steel support frame and masonry. But, what is a Palladian window? A Palladian window is composed of a “large, arched central section flanked by two narrower, shorter sections having square tops. This type of window, popular in 17th and 18th-century English versions of Italian designs, was inspired by the so-called Palladian motif…featured in the work of the 16th-century Italian architect, Andrea Palladio.” (www.britannica.com). 

Typical Palladian window design

So, why are is the Somerville Museum installing a Palladian window ? This window existed in the building and was removed sometime between 1980 and 1986 during a past renovation. They (past Museum trustees) had to remove the window to make room for the new side entry way. While they had planned to add an elevator at that time and re-install the Palladian window, they ran out of funds. So, they included it in a deed restriction to re-install the window whenever the Museum was able to build an elevator. And, so here we are! You can learn more here.

Architectural drawing from Peter Quinn Architects showing the placement of the Palladian window.