If there is one word to describe the design of modern shopfronts, that word would be “glass”.

A mix of improved production techniques, stronger structural glass construction and a general love of minimalist design has meant that a lot of shopfronts consist of a doorway, a fascia and large plates of glass showcasing the products and philosophy of the shop.

Getting to this level took an industrial revolution, an ambitious entrepreneur from the United States of America, and almost uncanny timing.

Prior to the middle of the 19th century, shopfronts consisted of grids of iron with small plates of glass in the middle. 

Whilst the techniques to produce large plate glass had existed since Ancient Rome and had been rediscovered in the 17th century, it was so expensive and time-consuming that it was used primarily for luxury mirrors.

This began to change with more efficient production methods, and several European shopfronts featured larger windows, although there were limits even here, and most plate glass was being produced at a loss for major architectural projects such as the Crystal Palace.

What changed this situation was Captain John Ford, a Pennsylvanian entrepreneur who constructed a glassworks in 1883 using low-cost natural gas that could produce high-quality large-size plate glass that was profitable.

His timing could not have been more perfect; with the increasing capabilities of architectural iron, 

window frames could take the weight of larger windows, and the rise of the department store concept in the middle of the 19th century meant that stores were increasingly keen to showcase their products.

The result was a complete revolution in how shopfronts looked, with the small stone and masonry shop look completely superseded by bright, open and lavishly decorated glass storefronts.

The impact of this can still be felt today, as the vast majority of shops open today follow a similar design structure to these late 19th-century innovators.