Bronze windows, advantages and disadvantages

The bronze windows are among the most precious fixtures for their particular aesthetics and for the quality of the material itself. Let’s find out about the many advantages and the minor disadvantages.
The undisputed charm of bronze windows is rooted in history. The first uses of this alloy date back to 3400 BC, when it was the most used material for the construction of votive objects, tinsels and weapons. Come the ninth century BC we see bronze appear for the first time on the facades of the houses of patricians and wealthy people in Pompei. Only at the beginning of the seventeenth century do we witness a conscious use of its technical characteristics and the many advantages it offers.

Today the windows made of this alloy constitute a harmonious combination of tradition, art and efficiency.

The technical characteristics of the alloy places bronze windows into modern architecture, with a unique style and high performance. They lend themselves to the construction of new and historic buildings, in which Capoferri stands out for its exclusive ability to customize the product and make it unique. Taking care of all phases from design to prototyping, from processing to installation, Capoferri demonstrates excellence in the production of bronze doors and windows.
But now to the advantages of these windows that have such a particular style.

Bronze characteristics

In order to know the advantages of bronze we must start from its characteristics. It first needs to clarify that bronze is not a metal. It is an alloy that is a combination of two metals, copper and tin. Their fusion generates a unique material that is distinguished by the following characteristics:

ability to counteract fatigue;
weatherability;
heat conductivity.

In fact, bronze is highly resistant from a mechanical point of view, withstands shocks, bending and traction. In addition to this, it is very resistant because of its physical characteristics, easily counteracting the action of atmospheric agents.
This is the ideal choice for construction, for which quality and resistance are key features to ensure long life for buildings. The windows are the weakest part of the architectural facade, they therefore must offer high technical performance to avoid continuous maintenance and renovations. Added to this is the living comfort that can be reached thanks to the thermal and acoustic insulation perfected by the addition of a double-glazing unit.
Among the characteristics of bronze, it is very particular that it oxidizes in contact with air without altering its physical characteristics, making it an excellent material for the structure of doors and windows.
It is also possible to accelerate this natural process through burnishing, which gives it the typical finish of antique bronze. This natural tonal variation makes the alloy resistant to external factors.

Due to its characteristics, bronze is a truly special alloy. For strength, hardness and ductility it is considered a noble material, perfect for enhancing the aesthetics of facades.

Bronze windows advantages

Bronze windows offer a series of advantages in which the aesthetic value is combined with the technical one, making this alloy the perfect material for the doors and windows of prestigious buildings.

The many advantages that make bronze windows so coveted are:

• elegance;
• customization;
• corrosion resistance;
• long duration;
• recyclability.

The refined aesthetics of the bronze windows are evident. It shows the combination of tradition and elegance. The action of time gives the windows and doors particular and natural tone variations that make them truly unique. The same result can be obtained immediately thanks to targeted treatments carried out during the production phase and which give the surface copper-ish or dark or shiny streaks.

Even in the disposal stage, bronze offers its advantages, being a 100% recyclable material.

Its exclusive and timeless beauty makes the windows suitable for high-level buildings. Capoferri’s skilful use of bronze has seen the company protagonist in the creation of notable architectural facades . Among these we can mention the Palazzo Anguissola in Milan and the presidential palace in Tbilisi (Georgia), for which we designed, produced and installed two facades with three floors of bronze windows and doors.

Custom bronze window frames

How to separate the beauty of bronze window frames from the possibility of having them completely custom made? The ancient charm of this type of window frames goes hand in hand with the client’s freedom of choice to have a unique style. It must be studied ad hoc to his taste and to the technical and structural needs of the building of which each window is intended to be part.

Designers and architects choose this material for the construction of prestigious houses and for the restoration of buildings that represent the artistic heritage of the cities.

It goes without saying that the preference for this alloy on the part of professionals of the trade cannot admit a production in series. Famous names in the world of architecture who commission custom bronze fixtures are not uncommon. Just think of one of Capoferri’s recent works: the Palco della Musica auditorium in Rome boasts 120 custom doors built from sheets of real bronze, satisfying the requests of one of the greats of world architecture such as Renzo Piano. Here the elegance of the ancient alloy on a building with a decidedly modern look certainly does not go unnoticed. Similarly, the main entrance of the JP Morgan library museum in New York. for which Capoferri, leading company in the production of windows, has created unique custom thermally broken windows is striking.
Of course, all this beauty is associated with meticulous effort that does not reveal the work of the craftsman except in the overall perfection at the end. The invisible welds and the choice of pure material translate into custom bronze doors, window frames, partitions and lift & slide windows that give buildings an exclusive harmony.