Why no screens in other countries?
March 13, 2010 12:49 PM Subscribe
Screens on windows in foreign countries--Where are they??
Does anyone have good theories about why so many other countries with warm climates and bugs have no screens on most windows? Design reasons? Cost reasons? Other?
Does anyone have good theories about why so many other countries with warm climates and bugs have no screens on most windows? Design reasons? Cost reasons? Other?
It's an American invention. Probably just never really caught on outside of the young, affluent countries like US/Canada/Australia where the trend could be bolstered by fast-paced development of a zillion shiny new suburban homes.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:08 PM on March 13, 2010
posted by Sys Rq at 1:08 PM on March 13, 2010
I lived in the South for 3 years before moving back to the UK. I'll admit that window screens are practically rather useful, but I could never explain to my American friends how ugly and oppressive they are: they give a house, and actually whole streets a closed and unwelcoming look, almost like bars, and they kill daylight in a house more efficiently than anything, I think. Coming from somewhere without a massive bug problem, I'm glad w don't need them.
posted by cromagnon at 1:16 PM on March 13, 2010
posted by cromagnon at 1:16 PM on March 13, 2010
Mosquito-based illnesses were pretty prevalent in the US. Wikipedia says yellow fever was a big concern in the colonial days, and their source "From Med School: Shoes, Window Screens, and Meat" says, "In addition to hookworm infestation, nearly a third of the inhabitants of the rural South had chronic malaria from living in houses with no window screens. "
So there's good justification for the US having them. I don't know about mosquito-borne illnesses in Canada and Australia, but I wouldn't be surprised if they existed.
It thus makes sense that Europe never got on board. Africa would if not for poverty (a lot of people can't afford mosquito netting, so screened doors and windows are out.)
I'd be curious if you see screens in other tropical, but affluent areas. It might just be a cultural East-West difference at that point.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 1:21 PM on March 13, 2010
So there's good justification for the US having them. I don't know about mosquito-borne illnesses in Canada and Australia, but I wouldn't be surprised if they existed.
It thus makes sense that Europe never got on board. Africa would if not for poverty (a lot of people can't afford mosquito netting, so screened doors and windows are out.)
I'd be curious if you see screens in other tropical, but affluent areas. It might just be a cultural East-West difference at that point.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 1:21 PM on March 13, 2010
Solon probably has it. Malaria was fought (and eradicated) in the US with window screens.
posted by Nothing at 1:32 PM on March 13, 2010
posted by Nothing at 1:32 PM on March 13, 2010
It thus makes sense that Europe never got on board.
It may not be that simple. Malaria certainly used to exist in Europe, both in the warm South and in cooler northern latitudes until relatively recently. So it's not as simple as the lack of insect-borne disease in Europe
posted by Quinbus Flestrin at 1:58 PM on March 13, 2010
It may not be that simple. Malaria certainly used to exist in Europe, both in the warm South and in cooler northern latitudes until relatively recently. So it's not as simple as the lack of insect-borne disease in Europe
posted by Quinbus Flestrin at 1:58 PM on March 13, 2010
Probably just never really caught on outside of the young, affluent countries like US/Canada/Australia where the trend could be bolstered by fast-paced development of a zillion shiny new suburban homes.
The popularity of window screens predates suburbs.
posted by smackfu at 2:47 PM on March 13, 2010
The popularity of window screens predates suburbs.
posted by smackfu at 2:47 PM on March 13, 2010
As I'm fond of saying, the street I grew up on (in Sarajevo) is older than your (American) country. And the same is true of the houses. We don't have screens, and here are some logical reasons why:
1) My house was hundreds of years old. Windows were in no way "standard." Each window in my house was a different size from the others and they opened all sorts of different ways. Retrofitting screens onto these ancient window openings would have been super expensive, not to mention impossible or impractical in many ways. Plus it would have looked stupid.
2) You know those old movies about places like Italy or Spain, where housewives holler at each other from house to house, or yell for their daughter to buy some grapes at the market or other quaint things like that? People did (and do) that in Sarajevo; it's an important component of social life. You can't do that with screens.
3) In America (from what I've seen), they just put down a suburb or town just about anywhere, but in 'old' Europe, the placement of settlements was generally well thought-out to avoid areas with stagnant water, low-lying fields and so on. That's because hundreds of years ago people had to be practical, not being privy to many of the modern conveniences that prevent floods, insect invasions and so on. Think about how in America things are so spread out, and how in most places people have big, expansive yards. This means lots of "local" mosquitoes and other bugs breeding in grass, ponds, backyard fountains and so on. In Sarajevo, there's very little green area - nearly everything is cobblestones, pavements and public squares. So . . . fewer bugs, and less need for screens. But because we're not spread out, if you want "green" it's just a casual walk to outlying undeveloped areas. And this is true in much of Europe. Where it's not, you'll see more screens.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 3:51 PM on March 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
1) My house was hundreds of years old. Windows were in no way "standard." Each window in my house was a different size from the others and they opened all sorts of different ways. Retrofitting screens onto these ancient window openings would have been super expensive, not to mention impossible or impractical in many ways. Plus it would have looked stupid.
2) You know those old movies about places like Italy or Spain, where housewives holler at each other from house to house, or yell for their daughter to buy some grapes at the market or other quaint things like that? People did (and do) that in Sarajevo; it's an important component of social life. You can't do that with screens.
3) In America (from what I've seen), they just put down a suburb or town just about anywhere, but in 'old' Europe, the placement of settlements was generally well thought-out to avoid areas with stagnant water, low-lying fields and so on. That's because hundreds of years ago people had to be practical, not being privy to many of the modern conveniences that prevent floods, insect invasions and so on. Think about how in America things are so spread out, and how in most places people have big, expansive yards. This means lots of "local" mosquitoes and other bugs breeding in grass, ponds, backyard fountains and so on. In Sarajevo, there's very little green area - nearly everything is cobblestones, pavements and public squares. So . . . fewer bugs, and less need for screens. But because we're not spread out, if you want "green" it's just a casual walk to outlying undeveloped areas. And this is true in much of Europe. Where it's not, you'll see more screens.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 3:51 PM on March 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
One more thing . . . in America, when a fly or mosquito get inside, it drives everyone crazy. This probably includes the insect, too, since Americans tend to block every possible exit. In Europe, all the windows would eb wide open without screens. The few insects that do get in tend to exit pretty quickly, because they can.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 3:53 PM on March 13, 2010
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 3:53 PM on March 13, 2010
Many houses and apartments in Asia have window screens comprised of sheets of plastic mesh attached to the window frame with velcro Presumably, they're much cheaper than having framed screens built into the window. They're also easier to remove for cleaning.
But yes, I agree that built-in screens on every window can make a house feel very closed-in. They block some of the light and can make the inhabitants feel very...contained. You can't, for example, stick your head out the window and wave to a friend if there's a screen over every window.
Also, in many Asian countries people hang their laundry on poles or lines directly outside their windows. Having built-in screens would make this very inconvenient.
posted by embrangled at 5:53 PM on March 13, 2010
But yes, I agree that built-in screens on every window can make a house feel very closed-in. They block some of the light and can make the inhabitants feel very...contained. You can't, for example, stick your head out the window and wave to a friend if there's a screen over every window.
Also, in many Asian countries people hang their laundry on poles or lines directly outside their windows. Having built-in screens would make this very inconvenient.
posted by embrangled at 5:53 PM on March 13, 2010
none of the homes I visited in Puerto Rico had screens in the jalousie windows. the inhabitants seemed to rely on a large number of electric fans, turned on high, and an incredible fortitude of thought that enabled them to believe they were not being bitten by mosquitos. I, being much less practiced at sustaining such belief, was bitten bloody.
posted by toodleydoodley at 6:20 PM on March 13, 2010
posted by toodleydoodley at 6:20 PM on March 13, 2010
Window screens became popular during the hygiene craze (part of the science and Progress craze) of the turn of the century in the United States. They're a key historic component of craftsman bungalows and Victorians.
One thing that might have kept the innovation from spreading to Europe and beyond was our windows: almost all windows in the United States are double-hung, meaning they open by sliding up. Most windows other places -- France, etc -- are casements, meaning they open in or out, like French doors. It's a lot harder to retro-fit screens on casements. The few casements that we have in the United States usually just have one sash instead of two (so like one door instead of double doors), with the screen on the inside and a crank to open the window through the screen (an American invention, I believe).
posted by thebazilist at 7:10 PM on March 13, 2010
One thing that might have kept the innovation from spreading to Europe and beyond was our windows: almost all windows in the United States are double-hung, meaning they open by sliding up. Most windows other places -- France, etc -- are casements, meaning they open in or out, like French doors. It's a lot harder to retro-fit screens on casements. The few casements that we have in the United States usually just have one sash instead of two (so like one door instead of double doors), with the screen on the inside and a crank to open the window through the screen (an American invention, I believe).
posted by thebazilist at 7:10 PM on March 13, 2010
In Baltimore, they used to paint their window screens. "The screens are for decoration, and privacy, too: The paintings allow residents to see out and prevent passersby from seeing in."
posted by bentley at 8:19 PM on March 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by bentley at 8:19 PM on March 13, 2010 [2 favorites]
I've just spent some time in a small village in the Amazon and most houses don't have glass windows, they just have the screen. Only the police station had "proper" glass windows.
posted by jontyjago at 10:06 PM on March 13, 2010
posted by jontyjago at 10:06 PM on March 13, 2010
Now that I think about it, I haven't seen screens in Mexico City, either.
All the windows of all the places I've lived have iron window frames, and they've been like that forever. And most of the other buildings are the same.
Screens aren't sold, and there is no way to affix them to your window.
I suppose in brand new constructions, in trendier neighborhoods, there may be some screens being put in.
Hmm also.. screens are vulnerable. Occasionally I've imagined putting some sort of screen door in front of my apartment door, to let air flow and at the same time protect my privacy. But I feel sure that the screen door would be eventually be vandalized or damaged, just by being on the outside.
Glass can be cut to fit any kind of frame or space - screens are not so practical.
posted by Locochona at 8:46 AM on March 14, 2010
All the windows of all the places I've lived have iron window frames, and they've been like that forever. And most of the other buildings are the same.
Screens aren't sold, and there is no way to affix them to your window.
I suppose in brand new constructions, in trendier neighborhoods, there may be some screens being put in.
Hmm also.. screens are vulnerable. Occasionally I've imagined putting some sort of screen door in front of my apartment door, to let air flow and at the same time protect my privacy. But I feel sure that the screen door would be eventually be vandalized or damaged, just by being on the outside.
Glass can be cut to fit any kind of frame or space - screens are not so practical.
posted by Locochona at 8:46 AM on March 14, 2010
So . . . fewer bugs, and less need for screens. But because we're not spread out, if you want "green" it's just a casual walk to outlying undeveloped areas. And this is true in much of Europe. Where it's not, you'll see more screens.
posted by Dee Xtrovert
I don't completely buy this. In Southern Europe (and Mexico) many small villages are agricultural and even though residences are clustered together, people often kept their livestock with them. Goatherds, for example, would keep their goats in the backyard and drive them out everyday to pasture. Pig farmers keep their pigs in pens, and so on. With all that livestock, of course you have bugs everywhere, annoying flies at least. So, why no screens?
The answer I think is construction. Or, windows are a modern luxury. Most older Southern European farmhouses are made of thick materials like stone. In the summer, the inside stays cool, windows if any are small and there is no need to open them to cool down in the summer. In fact, the reverse is true. In winter even more obviously there is no need to have windows or open them. Take a look at a Mas from Provence for example.
In cities, what Dee Xtrovert says does apply. That there is no greenery to produce insects. But this applies in most US cities as well.
posted by vacapinta at 3:03 PM on March 14, 2010
posted by Dee Xtrovert
I don't completely buy this. In Southern Europe (and Mexico) many small villages are agricultural and even though residences are clustered together, people often kept their livestock with them. Goatherds, for example, would keep their goats in the backyard and drive them out everyday to pasture. Pig farmers keep their pigs in pens, and so on. With all that livestock, of course you have bugs everywhere, annoying flies at least. So, why no screens?
The answer I think is construction. Or, windows are a modern luxury. Most older Southern European farmhouses are made of thick materials like stone. In the summer, the inside stays cool, windows if any are small and there is no need to open them to cool down in the summer. In fact, the reverse is true. In winter even more obviously there is no need to have windows or open them. Take a look at a Mas from Provence for example.
In cities, what Dee Xtrovert says does apply. That there is no greenery to produce insects. But this applies in most US cities as well.
posted by vacapinta at 3:03 PM on March 14, 2010
I may have overstated the case for insect borne disease as a factor, but the Tennessee Valley Authority did oversee the screening and mosquito-proofing of a large number of homes during the depression era. The program was quite effective, and I imagine that it is at least a part of the answer. I'm not saying places with mosquito borne disease necessarily have screens, just that in the US there were government programs to support the installation of screens.
posted by Nothing at 8:28 PM on March 14, 2010
posted by Nothing at 8:28 PM on March 14, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ocherdraco at 1:07 PM on March 13, 2010