{"id":40649,"date":"2022-10-26T15:55:50","date_gmt":"2022-10-26T13:55:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unhogaratumedida.es\/why-do-old-houses-have-high-ceilings\/"},"modified":"2022-10-26T15:55:50","modified_gmt":"2022-10-26T13:55:50","slug":"why-do-old-houses-have-high-ceilings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unhogaratumedida.es\/en\/why-do-old-houses-have-high-ceilings\/","title":{"rendered":"Why do old houses have high ceilings?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although today there are people who are already 2 meters tall and this seems normal to us, this was not the case in the past. Maybe that’s why you’ve ever wondered why the ceilings of old houses<\/strong> are so high<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Did anyone in the family have gigantism? Did the architect miscalculate? It’s a little suspicious that all the architects got it wrong, isn’t it?<\/p>\n

Why high ceilings<\/h4>\n

The first thing to make clear, especially for those who have thought about the gigantism or have blamed the architect, is that the old houses<\/strong> no air-conditioning system or air-conditioning home appliances<\/strong> standard as we have today, as well as small furniture or lamps, since the spaces were larger (usually) and larger objects were used.<\/p>\n

The second reason why the doors of the houses<\/strong> were high is that many people entered on horseback, especially in the villages, even inside the houses<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"high<\/p>\n

Nor, at least until 1879<\/strong> when Thomas Edison<\/strong> invented the light bulb, was there any installation of electricity as we know it today. And, therefore, the old houses were darker (the old ones, and a house I rented a few years ago in Gaztambide).<\/p>\n

To solve these problems of light and air, our friends the architects (among others) proposed higher ceilings<\/strong> in their projects, since, in addition, the heights of the old buildings<\/strong> were not as limited by the regulations as they are today.<\/p>\n

The higher the height, the better the air circulates, producing the desired ventilation<\/strong> (this is now solved by installing air conditioners<\/strong> or your mother opening the windows wide in winter).<\/p>\n

\"how<\/p>\n

In other words, the greater the free height<\/strong>, the greater the amount of air that flows, as well as the space that is available for it to circulate through the interior space, thus acting as a ventilation system.<\/p>\n

But what does clear height mean?<\/h5>\n

Don’t worry, surely Thomas Edison also wondered what headroom was<\/strong>. This is considered the distance between the bottom of the ceiling and the floor, both finished. And this distance has minimum habitability requirements.<\/p>\n

What is the minimum height in a dwelling? <\/strong><\/p>\n

The clear habitable height<\/strong> between the finished floor and the underside of the ceiling must be at least 2.50 meters<\/strong>. And, in the case of kitchens and circulation spaces (e.g., corridors), this height cannot be less than 2.20 meters<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"how<\/p>\n

How high should the ceilings of a house be?<\/h4>\n

What is currently required by regulations<\/a> is a clear height, without cladding, of about 2.70 meters<\/strong>, since after the finishes (tiles, false ceilings, etc.) the height is usually somewhat less, about 2.50 meters (minimum height required).<\/p>\n

High ceilings<\/strong> make spaces look and feel visually wider; that much is obvious. In addition, they allow decorating with more voluminous lamps and are brighter and airier spaces. Although this amplitude also makes them colder in winter.<\/p>\n

What is the difference between a modern house and an old house?<\/h4>\n

The fundamental difference between the houses of the past and those of today<\/strong>, apart from the fact that the latter have lower ceilings, is based on three aspects:<\/p>\n