Andy Billman has photographed dozens of bricked-up windows across London for a series that examines how light and air in architecture affects wellbein

The 'visual beauty' of bricked-up windows

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2021-06-15 08:00:06

Andy Billman has photographed dozens of bricked-up windows across London for a series that examines how light and air in architecture affects wellbeing.

Having initially taken an interest in their aesthetics, Billman was fascinated to discover many of the windows would have been blocked up centuries ago, to avoid tax.

"Documenting my surroundings to resurface the story of the window tax feels very timely, as the last year has proven natural light and fresh air have been more important than ever," he says.

However, in urban areas, poorer people commonly lived in large tenement buildings, which, regardless of how they were subdivided, were considered to be a single dwelling and subject to heavy tax.

The lack of light and ventilation is thought to have greatly affected people's health and wellbeing and allowed epidemics to quickly spread.

Writer Charles Dickens frequently spoke out against the tax and, in 1850, said: "Neither air nor light have been free since the imposition of the window tax.