← Theory & Mathematics
Fenestration
/ˌfɛn.ɪˈsteɪ.ʃən/
THEORY & MATHEMATICSintermediate
Definition
The arrangement, proportion, and design of windows and openings in a building's facade. Fenestration affects light, ventilation, structural performance, and visual rhythm. Architects use it as a primary compositional tool — the pattern of openings can define the character of an entire elevation.
Example
Mies van der Rohe's Seagram Building in New York (1958) uses a disciplined grid of identical windows to create a facade of precise, abstract rhythm.