Residential houses have been using exterior window shutters for quite some time. They were a common element in traditional homes in many tropical and subtropical regions. Shutters on exterior windows can be extremely functional in a tropical home. However, these have lost their popularity in our Caribbean region over the past decades. They are seen as outdated and unnecessary elements to add to our homes.
However, I believe that window shutters could offer a lot to the performance and functionality of homes in tropical climates.
Traditional Functions of Exterior Window Shutters
The primary reasons for exterior window shutters were to provide privacy and security and to respond to climatic conditions. They provided shade from the sun and offered protection from the rain. Shutters also created protection for window openings during severe weather systems like tropical storms and hurricanes.
In traditional homes throughout tropical regions, window shutters were able to provide these benefits while allowing natural ventilation.
Exterior window shutters provide a ton of benefits in many traditional tropical homes.
Types of Shutters
Window shutters come in various styles. These offer different functions and create various design enhancements to the exterior of your home.
Types of shutters include solid options that, when closed, will create complete privacy. Examples of these are raised or flat panels and closed board and batten shutters. However, these prevent any natural light or ventilation from passing through.
Options that allow some natural light and ventilation include louvred and open board and batten shutters. Recently I have also been seeing a lot of slatted shutters in contemporary-style homes.
Most shutters tend to be hinged at the sides. However, they are also some top-hung shutters like the Bahama and Demerara.
Here are some ways exterior window shutters can benefit your modern-day tropical home.
Privacy and Security
With the move to contemporary residential architecture in tropical regions, we have started incorporating a lot more glass into our homes. Large sliding doors and huge windows are great elements to give your home that sleek, modern feel. However, with lots of glass comes lots of visible exposure.
Shutters are a great way to add privacy unless you like putting on a show for the neighbours. Blinds and curtains can also be effective for privacy but restrict the flow of natural ventilation.
Shutters add an additional layer of security to a window opening as well.
The amount of privacy a shutter provides will depend on the type used.
A solid panel or board and batten shutter will provide the most privacy. However, they will not facilitate any ventilation or natural light when closed. This is not ideal for the tropics.
They will keep out all direct sunlight and may also add extra protection in a tropical storm, but it is not ideal for thermal comfort.
Shade From The Sun
Protecting direct sunlight from entering your home is a major aspect of tropical architecture. This is to ensure that the interior spaces of your tropical home do not heat up too much.
Shutters such as the Bahama and Demerara were widely used in the Caribbean region for solar shading. This occurred even in their open position. In the closed position, they provided ventilation and offered protection in a storm or hurricane.
The large extent of glazed window openings in contemporary-style homes can introduce lots of direct sunlight into your rooms. Window shutters are a great option for reducing some of the direct sunlight while allowing cool breezes through.
Allow Natural Ventilation
For the tropics, I think that it is ideal to select a shutter that not only provides privacy and sun shading but also allows natural ventilation when closed.
I believe that one of the most functional types of shutters for this is the fixed louvre Colonial shutter. Its fixed louvres allow the breeze to flow through while keeping out direct sunlight.
This type of shutter was one of the main staples throughout the Caribbean, the southern United States and several other tropical and subtropical colonial regions. Also called Plantation Shutters, they were often found in plantation houses. Eventually, they also got implemented in small lower-class houses like the chattel house.
If properly built and secured, these shutters can provide protection during a tropical storm.
In old traditional homes, they could also be closed at night while leaving the window open. This offered great privacy and security while supplying cooling breezes to your room all through the night. This is a feature I wish I had at this very moment writing this blog in the sweltering heat of my room.
The slanted fixed louvres also prevent light rain from entering. Another plus in tropical climates.
Contemporary Applications
As previously mentioned, exterior window shutters are not as popular as they were in traditional vernacular architecture. Perhaps this is because they can create a dated look in their traditional form.
However, modern applications of these can be designed to suit the contemporary style of your home. They can use the traditional hinged system or other sliding and folding operations.
If you are considering adding shutters to your home, you can find examples of these on Pinterest and other places on the internet.
In addition, to be able to open and close them from the inside, they would need to be paired with a sash or sliding window. Interior shutters would need to be used on casement, awning and other similar types of windows.
Conclusion
Exterior window shutters were a major aspect of traditional vernacular architecture in tropical regions.
They provided privacy and security, as well as sun shading to windows. In the tropics, they were designed and used so that they allowed passive ventilation as well. When a tropical storm is approaching, they provide a quick and easy way of protecting your glazed windows from windborne debris.
Though not as popular today in many regions, I believe shutters can still be an excellent addition to your tropical home. These need not copy the traditional forms from our colonial past, but you can explore contemporary applications of window shutters and other timber sunscreens.
Shutters can bring an additional level of comfort and functionality to your home.
Featured image by Vlad Chețan from Pexels