A blind window is a feature on a facade that looks like a window or opening but is in fact bricked up or plastered solid. The term is used for both a blank wall (a wall without openings) and a blind window (a frame with masonry infill instead of glass).
Why use a blind window?
- Symmetry — the facade appears balanced, even where a real window is not wanted on the inside
- Structure — in locations where load-bearing capacity is needed and a real opening would weaken the construction
- Loading — fewer facade openings mean more load-bearing capacity for upper floors
- Privacy regulations — where a window on the boundary is not permitted, a blind window is used instead
Blind window vs. blocked-up window
| Feature | Blind window | Blocked-up window |
|---|---|---|
| **Origin** | Designed as blind from the outset | Was once a real window, later filled in |
| **Frame** | Often present (for appearance) | Frame sometimes removed |
| **Infill** | Masonry, plaster or panel | Masonry, insulation or board |
| **Heritage** | Often part of the original design | Later alteration |
Blank wall
A blank wall is an entire facade side without windows, doors or other openings. This occurs in:
- Side elevations on the boundary
- Party walls (shared wall between two dwellings)
- Fire walls that close off a fire compartment
Historical use
In the 17th and 18th centuries, blind windows were deliberately designed to balance the facade composition. Georgian townhouses and canal-side buildings regularly feature blind windows that are barely distinguishable from real ones when seen from outside.
Identifying a blind window
- The glazing is absent or replaced by a panel
- The frame sits slightly recessed in the facade, just like a real window
- Sometimes the blind window is painted to look like glass (trompe-l’oeil)
Related terms
- Facade
- Reveal
- Frame
- Cavity wall
- Parapet
- Jamb