French Doors originated in France. Who'd have thought it!? But there's a little more history behind them… We mentioned in our previous blog 'The changing fashion in front doors' that during the early 19th century, gothic architecture was dominating the UK.
In summary, french doors are indeed French and were created by French artisans who were inspired by the Italian Renaissance. Over the years, french doors have evolved with the creation of different types of doors, as well as modern influences in their designs.
French doors are called as such because they originated in France during the 16th to 17th centuries. The French found that a window-like door that has glass panes extending for most of its length was perfect for introducing a sense of regularity, proportion and illumination.
French doors, or two adjoining doors with glass panes from top to bottom, are a popular feature in today's homes, but did the design actually originate in the country of France? Realtor.com reports yes. The first set was designed in the 17th century during the French Renaissance period.
The French window is often mistakenly thought to have originated from 16th Century France, an artistic design from the Renaissance Era. However, it wasn't from France at all; The style was a product of Italian renaissance architecture – and if you go further back, you could even say they are Roman or Greek.
French Doors are full length and feature a door handle, whereas French windows are half length and have a different handle specifically manufactured for windows. French windows feature two panels of glass that are side hung and open either inward or outward, creating an uninterrupted view.
The answer to this question is quite simple and obvious – It is because these types of double doors were first popular and fashionable in France – starting with French windows and evolving into doors and hence became known as French doors.
The door of the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome is thought to be the original, dating from 430-2, although not in the portal in which it now stands. Eighteen of its wooden panels still survive, one of which depicts one of the earliest representations of the crucifixion of Christ.
These doors were designed in the Netherlands in the 17th century to keep animals out and children in. Dutch settlers brought this charming style to the United States in rural homes of New York and New Jersey.
The first recorded history of doors was found in Egyptian tomb paintings 4000 years ago. No one knows who invented the door, only that it was first incepted somewhere in central Egypt.
Arguably, the biggest difference comes from durability. European doors last much longer because they're built to last.
The knob at the door's midpoint provides more security, with a crossbar stretched across its width for even more reinforcing support. A central knob also presents a more straightforward installation for latching technology, which is beneficial for keeping doors shut.
Double doors for double the opening capacity
In the glazing industry, double doors can refer to any doors with two independently opening leaves. This includes French doors, but normally if you hear an industry professional talking about double doors, they are speaking about a larger version of the classic French door.
As time progressed and advancements were made, the Romans used their creative architectural minds to create more advanced doors. These doors were usually made out of bronze and included the use of single, double, sliding, and folding doors. In Roman Religion, Janus was the Roman god of doors and archways.
The (Quick) History of Double Doors
While you can trace double doors back to ancient Greece (made from stone), they became popular in France – where the term “french doors” originated. French doors are now more widely known to have glass panes, whereas double doors are often wider and are partially solid.
Aside from the Egyptians, ancient Roman and Greek populations were also involved in the construction of the first doors. Sliding and double doors were a common feature in temples as early as 79 A.D., according to ruins from Herculaneum and Pompeii in ancient Rome.
Irish culture has many known associations with the red front door. When Queen Victoria ordered them to paint their doors black, red doors were a sign of rebellion. There is also folklore symbolism with some choosing to believe a red front door warns off evil spirits and ghosts.
A traditional German interior door is quite different than we have become familiar with in the US. The "German Edge" interior door has a rebated edge that overlaps the casing, this has unique benefits and is a favorite interior door style to keep project pricing low while maximizing the quality and unique design style.
The door of the Pantheon is one of the oldest preserved in the world. The door of the Pantheon is among the oldest bronze doors in the world, existing today. This gigantic door survived the medieval looting because over the centuries the temple was transformed into a church. This is the oldest gate still in use in Rome ...
The Magic Door
The Porta Alchemica (Alchemical Door), also known as the Magic Portal, is a monument built between 1678 and 1680 by the Marquis Massimiliano Palombara, in his residence, the Villa Palombara. It is located on the Esquilino hill, near Piazza Vittorio, in Rome.
The large bronze doors to the cella, at the Pantheon in Rome measure 4.45 metres (14.6 ft) wide by 7.53 metres (24.7 ft) high and are the oldest in Rome. The present version, which has survived almost 2000 years, was built by Hadrian between 118-128 AD.
Center Hinge Doors are used where you have the wall space for a French or Patio door but only want one side to open. The center hinge door will provide the look of a French door but hinge in the center allowing the opening to be on the right or left side rather than the center.
French doors, meanwhile, generally comprise two, separate doors which open outwards and will often be found in older houses leading out to patios or conservatories. For this reason, they are often also referred to as “patio doors”, although this term can encapsulate other door types too.
The most common way to install French doors is so that they open outwards, but it is possible to have them open inwards instead if you are short of space in your garden.