A PRESTIGIOUS exhibition featuring windows from Windsor Castle, the Royal Holloway Sanatorium and the Tower of London is giving architecture fans plenty to reflect on.

The UK launch of the Wall of Windows exhibition has arrived in Brighton for visitors to enjoy after its premiere at last year’s Venice Biennale in an exhibition curated by world-renowned architect Rem Koolhaas.

Also featured in the exhibition are Alfred Hitchcock’s “rear window” from his Winter’s Grace home in Surrey and the 19th century windows of a home in Wykeham Terrace, Brighton, which were rescued from a skip in 2007.

The windows on display cover more than 300 years of craftsmanship drawn from a fittings and features archive of more than 500,000 items brought together by collector Charles Brooking.

Items date from a 17th century wrought-iron casement window from a Hampshire farmhouse to a 1960s arrow-slit window from the demolished Tricorn Centre in Portsmouth.

Brighton and Hove Heritage Commission has been integral in bringing the exhibition to the city as sponsors, along with The British Engineerium and lawyers Morgan Lewis and architects Purcell.

Two of its Heritage Commissions members, Roger Amerena and Neil English, have played a key role in turning the collection into a registered charity as a step towards establishing the collection as the national archive.

It took volunteers four days to lay out the fragile and valuable exhibits.

The collection is the life work of architectural historian and consultant Charles Brooking and is currently based in Cranleigh, Surrey.

Mr Amerena, chairman of The Brooking National Collection trustees, said the search was now on to find funding and a location for a permanent home for the collection.

He hoped that Brighton and Hove could potentially become home to a Regency and Early Victorian teaching collection. He said: “The exhibition had huge international support during its five months in Venice and we hope the Brighton viewing will be the start of its tour round the UK.”

He added the exhibition was for everyone and not just architecture aficionados.

It will run at the University of Brighton’s gallery in Grand Parade until April 10.

An official exhibition launch will be held on Friday, March 27, which will be followed by a two-hour discussion with special guests.

For more information, visit arts.brighton.ac.uk.