Which architectural window arrangement features a central arched window flanked by two rectangular windows?

• A. Bay window
• B. Palladian
• C. Diocletian window
• D. Oriel

Answer: (B)

A Palladian window is a tri-partite design with a large central arched opening flanked by two smaller rectangular windows, all in one horizontal alignment to create a balanced, classical look. This arrangement comes from Renaissance architecture and is attributed to Andrea Palladio, and it’s sometimes called a Venetian window. The central arch acts as the focal point while the side rectangles maintain symmetry and proportion. A bay window projects outward from the wall, creating a bay inside the room and not a central arch with side openings. A Diocletian window is a large semicircular opening across a wall subdivided into three lights, but it isn’t paired with rectangular flankers in the same frame. An oriel window projects from the wall but does not form this fixed triad with a central arch.