The History of Rooflights

The history of rooflights goes back thousands of years and was born of the need to light the interior of buildings. At the time the first rooflights appeared there were no glass windows or electricity so architects needed to figure out how to illuminate interiors in the most convenient and effective way possible. In this post, we'll take a brief look at the history of rooflights from ancient times to the present day.

In the Beginning

The earliest known iteration of what we now call the rooflight appeared in ancient Greece. Architects at that time used them primarily in temples and assorted government buildings. Because there were no windows to install over them these early rooflights were little more than holes in the ceiling. 

While that was fine for large temples that were made almost entirely of granite and marble and where you could simply move if rain fell through the rooflight, it did not work so well in homes which were small and typically made of wood and plaster and where rain falling through the roof would be a major problem.

The Middle Ages

Following the slow, inexorable decline of the Western Roman Empire the construction of large temples and government buildings ground to a halt, and with it the use of rooflights. As Europe began to recover and reconstitute itself during the Middle Ages, however, interest in daylighting interior spaces was reawakened. And because glass production had become something of a commonplace you could cover any openings in a way that let light in, but kept rain and cold out.

As the Middle Ages gave way to the Renaissance roof lanterns began to appear on cathedrals, churches and government buildings. These were small structures that sat atop roofs and domes with glass panels all around the side to allow light in.

Into the Modern Age

By the time the 20th century rolled around rooflight design had evolved into what we recognise today. As the century wore on, progress centred more on upgrading the materials than revolutionary design advances. Here in the 21st century, rooflights have become synonymous with environmentally responsible design and are widely used on everything from small homes to vast industrial facilities.

Contact Rooflights Roof Lanterns

If you'd like to know whether rooflights are right for your home or business call Rooflights Roof Lanterns today on 020 8087 2004. We'll be happy to answer your questions.

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