Miami window in vernacular house in Vieques, PR
Miami windows - they are everywhere, they are ugly and they make us sweat. Everywhere you go, you see them warming the buildings like aluminum heaters in permanent action. They became popular in Puerto Rico around the early 70’s and they are still seen and implemented today from vernacular structures to government buildings. Introduced in the Puerto Rican market by -Miami –Somer company from New Jersey, these white windows, also known as the “jalousie” type quickly became popular in many projects because of their price, versatile installation and security against hurricanes. They were marketed as THE window for the tropics since it was affordable, long lasting and with little or noinsulating capabilities (crucial for cold climates and unfortunately ignored for warm ones). The “Miami” type window, as it is commonly known by Puerto Ricans, is made of an aluminum alloy, which is a much better option than wood since it is not damaged by termites or humidity. But it turns out that aluminum is one of the common metals with the highest thermal conductivity (second after gold, which has the highest). When exposed to the sun, the Miami window heats up immediately and heats all the air that goes through it. As a matter of fact, it acts exactly as an electric heater that you put in your bedroom when it is -30 degrees outside in Toronto!
Original advertising, 1970's
But on a positive note, for this blog I wanted to feature an example of a relatively successful implementation of these windows in a building that is rarely noticed in the area of the University of Puerto Rico. This is “La Torre del Norte” designed by Jose Firpi in 1971. The “North Tower” is one of the main student housing buildings in the UPR and it is not precisely the most beautiful and updated one. Nonetheless, thanks to the successful implementation of the Miami windows, it is a building that needs minimal air conditioning and has excellent cross ventilation in common and private areas. This time Firpi took advantage of this inexpensive type of window by using it continuously from floor to ceiling in every floor. This condition created excellent ventilation of the interior by taking cooler air from the lower part of the window and releasing it in the upper section of the window frame on each level. Also, Firpi oriented the building so that the windows faced north and south and the sun didn’t hit the aluminum windows directly over the course of the day.
Torre del Norte today, view from the street
So next time you pass by Ave. Universidad (University Avenue), take a look at your right when you are in the traffic light. Don’t miss it! For many, this building might look plain or just ugly, but for me it looks fresh and a great and creative use of the Miami windows.
advertisement, july 09
Perhaps one of the only buildings that were designed to be used with Miami buildings.
ReplyDeleteRegrettably, for the rest of Puerto Rico, the proliferation of these windows is an architectural abomination destroying the integrity of many if not all Art Deco buildings and even those colonial or neo-colonial buildings that have not been renovated by some historic preservation fund.
Miami windows were introduced to the island sometime in the late 1940's or early 1950's. By 1960 they were endemic on the island. They are indeed an "abomination" as stated by Davsot.
ReplyDeleteUltramatic