In Between Space Dialectice of Inside and Outside in Architecture
In Between Space Dialectice of Inside and Outside in Architecture
In Between Space Dialectice of Inside and Outside in Architecture
I n-Between Space,
Dialectic of Inside and Outside in Architecture
1
Alireza Shahlaei, 2*Marzieh Mohajeri
1
Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Art and Architecture, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran,
Iran.
2
M.S in Architecture, Department of Architecture and Urbanism, Science and Technology University of Iran, Tehran,
Iran.
ABSTRACT: Defining space by dividing it to inside and outside is one of humans ways to recognize his position
in environment. Architecture is created to response to this need for inside/outside spaces. Design of inside and outside
Spaces and relation between them always has been one of necessities for definition and limitation of human living
spaces, but little attention to relation of this two spatial realms and poor design of transitional spaces between them
has caused to lack of quality in current Iranian architecture. This study aims to explore relation of inside and outside in
architecture and focus on condition of transition, boundary and connection of those. For achieving this purpose concept
of inside, outside and in-between has been investigated and by exploring cases of this kind of connection (especially in
past and recent Iranian architecture), the aims, approaches, functions and physical forms of in-between spaces has been
presented. This results and findings can enhance design considerations of in-between spaces especially in architecture
of Irans big cities. Literature reviewed has shown importance of in-between space design as another kind of space:
either inside and outside, neither one of them.
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MATERIALS AND METHODS force, but is rather a kind of primordial atmosphere, endowed
This study is conceptually a qualitative one that its type is with pressure and tension and bounded by the infinite void
applied developmental. Research method is descriptive and (Brookes, 2012).
statistical society is all of relevant documents and citations. Arnheim at The Dynamics of Architectural Form has said:
Sample size is all of available documentations and comparative Space is created by a specific set of natural and artificial things
studies and therefore sample size and statistical society are whose architecture is involved in its creation. Also Zevi has
equal. Method of data collection is librarian and its device mentioned: Everything which has no space is not architecture.
is taking notes. Method of data analysis is application of Every building creates two spaces at the same time: interior
descriptive statistical like frequency. Also some case study space and exterior space. Interior space is the essence and basis
from past and resent Iranian architecture is applied to indicate of architecture. Grutter has said: Architectural space can be
this issue more clearly. perceived objectively and feel directly and it can identify by its
defining elements (Parsaee et al., 2014).
Space After reviewing some literature about architectural space and
Architecture takes place in space; this act can functionally before getting started to define inside and outside, it is necessary
responds to human physical needs or goes further by responding to know why humans mind always tends to divide space into
to his spiritual needs and therefor convert from producing of inside and outside and creates a controlled connection between
buildings to true architecture and makes humans living spaces them.
desirable and qualitative. Anyway architecture is dependent In order for one to understand and live within an environment,
and attached to the space; space embraces architecture and they must first be able to establish a sense of place and position.
architecture embraces space. From here one is able to establish a mental if not physical
Man changes his environment on the basis of his needs and boundary, which highlights the space in which they need to
aims and is himself affected directly by the environment in occupy in order to cater for their behavior and movement as
which he lives. In designing architectural spaces, few are the they undertake their daily routine and activities. The concept
cases in which adequate attention is given to the psychological of space results from humans need of orientation, outlook and
aspects related to the user of the space. Therefore, it deems perspective. We as humans inhabit the environment which is
a necessity to focus on the cognition and consideration of large and very exposed, often referred to as the outside, which
space. Heidegger, for the first time, proposed that "existence is to some poses the threat of danger and exposure, which in turn
spatial" and that "one cannot separate man from space". Space leads us humans to a need for protection, shelter and privacy,
is neither a concrete object nor an abstract one; otherwise, there this space can be known as the inside (Brookes, 2012).
may exist neither man nor space. Therefore, the space and
environment have special significance in architectural theories Outside
and invite extensive study and research (Tabaeian & Einifar, Outside can be defined as being outside a specified thing or
2011). place; out of doors or similarly the external side or surface
Space is commonly defined as the possibility of extension. To of something. The outside is generally associated with the
this we can add that space is the possibility of being occupied. environment, the great outdoors. The environment can be
Space itself is abstract and empty. When space is occupied by defined as the external conditions or surroundings in which
an object; that object uses up or swallows a certain portion of people live as well as the natural world of land, sea, air,
space. Empty space, like a vacuum, is invisible. Only when plants, and animals (Collins, 2003).
space is occupied is anything visible. However, it is not space Human always is attached to outdoors environment and cannot
itself that becomes visible, only its absence. The object erects survive without touch with his surrounding natural environment;
a barrier to further inquiry inwards, its surface reflects back this dependence is both physical and psychological. Humans
our attempts to see further within. If an object is opaque, the body has relation with natural cycle of day and night and also
only part that we can see of space is the boundary between the four seasons. This natural environment allow him to breath,
occupied and unoccupied portion. The object defines a shape eat, drink, sleep and in brief allow him to live. Human for his
in space by delimiting it. The sculptor makes a statement about physical and social life needs to be in connection with this great
the difference between unoccupied space and occupied space outside while this outside is not always welcoming and has
by showing us the boundary of inside and outside (Bloom, some threatens and undesired factors that can harm this living.
2005). This negative factors force human to create a space that can
Space is defined as an interval of distance or time between insure safety from this exposure.
two points, objects or events (Collins, 2003). It is also known The open world is changeable and un-responsive to our
as a relation between objects (Arnheim, 1977). Space has the demands. It is characterized by wind, rain, heat, cold, and
property of setting frontiers or limits to bodies within it and sometimes hostile animals. These are the things that define
of preventing these bodies from becoming indefinitely large or this space as uniquely outside. Outside we feel exposed and
small. Space is not some pure extension, lacking all qualities of defenseless (Lo, 1986).
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Inside is the relationship of inside and outside that ultimately lead us
Inside, as the opposite to outside, can be defined as being in or to the idea of space (Collins, 2003). A relationship must have
to the interior of something, the inner side, surface, or part of (Brookes, 2012):
something (Collins, 2003). This domain: that we carve out is a A number of PARTS which are to be connected.
protective cocoon we call inside. Automatically, of course, we A CONNECTION which must be logical, placing the elements
must also have an outside, because one cannot exist without the into a single image.
other. Both this inside and outside are self-contained spaces, just An image which forms a WHOLE, having greater meaning
as we are individual elements in the environment. Reinstating than the original elements.
the idea of how both inside and outside are mutually exclusive A relationship can be defined as:
(Lo, 1986). Whole = Part + Connection + Part
Though we have a certain measure of dependence on the Space can be seen as the overall image, space is the Whole:
environment and outside, we are not inextricably linked to its which is a result of the relationship between inside and outside.
rhythms. We dont have to rigidly follow the seasons, or the Inside and outside supply the parts, while openings make the
cycle of day and night. We possess the means to live, work connections. The whole, is an appreciation of the duality
and relax practically when and where we choose. Because of of their complementary characters (Lo, 1986).
this individual nature, we are continuously attempting to locate The differentiation between this outside and inside is defined
ourselves in space. To do this we must carve out a natural space, by humans behavior and perception. A physical boundary is
an area which we can dominate with our presence (Brookes, often implemented but is not essential. This space becomes
2012). According to Moore (1974), if we aim to provide the in-between it could be known as a connection, a line of
ourselves with a sense of identity, this is very important to tension, a boundary, a transitory space (Brookes, 2012).
give people the chance to know where they are in space, in time Venturi has mentioned importance of this issue and says:
and the order of things. Contrast between the inside and the outside can be a major
manifestation of contradiction in architecture The essential
Inside/Outside Relationship purpose of the interiors of buildings is to enclose rather than
One way to understand concept of something is study on its direct space, and to separate the inside from the outside. Kahn
components to understand how this component shape the has said: "A building is a harboring thing." The function of the
whole. Classification of somethings parts and relationships house to protect and provide privacy, psychological as well as
between them can help to perception of phenomena. Study on physical, is an ancient one... Contradiction between the inside
concept of space also can be done by look at inside and outside and the outside may manifest itself in an unattached lining
space and how they relate to each other. Understanding the which produces an additional space between the lining and the
essence of inside and outside space and differentiation between exterior wall layers between the inside space and the outside
them can help architects to form proper inside/outside space can be more or less contrasting in shape, position, pattern,
relationship and create high quality architectural space that and size. (Venturi, 1977)
meet users satisfaction. In different architectural types this connection is expressed by
Understanding the nature of inside and outside space, and how many methods and forms to give a proper response to humans
the differentiation between the two affects their relationship, is demand based on specific contexts conditions that architecture
very important if we are to appreciate how a building satisfies took place on that. This different approaches to this design
the innate human need for shelter (Lo, 1986). Architects issue will discuss in the following of this paper.
and designers alike have found it necessary to interpret the
combination of closed and open spaces as a dynamic interplay In-Between Space
of barriers and passages. Quite in general, architectural The between can be defined as an intermediate point to two
space must be viewed as an activity of forces, not as a static other points in time and space or indicating a linking relation
arrangement of objects and interstices (Brookes, 2012). or comparison. The in-between can be defined as being in a
Zevy says: Everything which has no space is not architecture. space that is between one specified thing and another (Collins,
Every building creates two spaces at the same time: interior 2003).
space and exterior space. Interior space is the essence and basis If we are to fully comprehend the meanings of inside and
of architecture. Nurbeg-schulz says: The relation between outside, with their connotations of exposure, enclosure,
inside and outside, which is the first aspect of objective protection or security, then a link between both worlds is vital.
space, shows that spaces have various levels of extension and It is this link which alters the relationship between inside and
surrounding. Mahmoodinejad says: In the phenomenology outside (Lo, 1986). The words inside and outside reflect a
approach, space has distinctly definable elements which dichotomy in direct experience. Inside and outside cannot be
include: dialectic of inside and outside, centrality, surrounding, seen at the same time. This leads us to the space that is the in-
territory and range (Parsaee et al., 2014). between (Arnheim et al., 1966). In-between can also be known
A relationship is defined as a connection between two things, it as a connection, transition, border, differentiation, threshold or
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Vol.5, No.3, Summer 2015
line of tension. The design of space which is neither internal traditionally efficient ways to moderate indoor climate with
nor external may best be described as a third type of space: the free sources available from nature. These kinds of spaces
inside-outside space (Brookes, 2012). are recently being considered from the comfort point of view.
By understanding the nature of inside and outside space, Maragno and Roura (2010) have mentioned: These spaces
and how the connection being the in-between affects their can help to ensure environmental quality in buildings, while
relationship, we are able to appreciate how a building satisfies rationalizing the use of energy and materials.
the innate human need for shelter. This need is what leads us But it must be mentioned that beyond a simple preference for
to the space which is known as the inside, the outside is what inside-outside spaces based on lifestyle patterns or climatic
causes the need for this space, and it is the connection the in- comfort, there is a growing argument for an aesthetic affinity
between, which allows one to establish a relationship between for these ambiguous spaces that transcend the conventional
the two. It is through the implementation of a boundary and a dualistic architectural amalgam of internal space and external
connection that ultimately has the ability to turn a space into a form (Skinner, 2013). The aesthetics of horticulture, or
place (Lo, 1986). architecture, and of city planning begins only where man
To maintain the distinction between inside and outside there deliberately has created a distinction between inside and
should be only limited means of communication between the outside. This distinction enables the parts of the relationship
two. If there is a house with no openings, then if we start on to be defined and in turn the completeness of the relationship,
its outside we cannot get inside, while if we start on the inside the whole that is space to be recognized (Arnheim et al., 1966).
we cannot get outside. The outer wall of the building needs to The importance of inside/outside relationship and its impact on
be a semi-permeable, so that if we choose the right location on forming in-between spaces is been said and therefore demand
its skin, and move in the right direction, we will find ourselves for this kind of space as one of complicated elements of
suddenly inside. Though the door is passive in space, it allows architecture must not be neglected; this element as a subsystem
us to be an active agent to apply ourselves against its fulcrum to of architecture must respond to the needs that Lo (Lo, 1986)
cause the inside to become outside, or the reverse. There is no believes that architecture must serve (Brookes, 2012):
discernable physical difference between walking through the Physiological Demands for light, air, sun, the filtering out of
door one way or the other, but the response in our experience climatic extremes, and generally protection from the hazards
of space is vastly different (Bloom, 2005). of the outside: to ensure both the short and long term survival
Some researchers have focused on inside/ outside relationship of the individual.
as public/private dual and have defined this kind of space Psychological Demands for privacy, contact with others and
as: intermediate area between the public area outside of a contact with the environment, a sense of security, identity, and
house and a private area on the inside (Maliki et al., 2015). orientation: to add meaning to the life of an individual. Here it
Ismail (2012) has mentioned: A half-public, or half-private is the presence of our emotions which separates a building
kind of space can be profoundly meaningful to users. The from architecture.
built environment is influenced by culture, belief and past The examples of elements that connect inside and outside is
experiences of its inhabitants. openings, visual accesses, balconies, and veranda and so on.
Some studies also have considered in-between space design as Sometimes this connection goes further from being a mere
a cultural subject dependent to this context. Asadi et al. (2015) element and creates an architectural spaces that cannot be
have said: Transition space is a place that has control on defined as interior or exterior and stands somewhere between
privacy, movement, and covers spaces from foreign sight. In this two spatial realms. This kind of spaces are called with
fact, all of these are included in the function of transition space different names such as intermediate, transitional, liminal or
in the housing plan according to Islamic culture in Iran ... The in-between spaces and this kind of space has important role in
transition space with its function plays the role of symbol in past and recent architecture in many areas. At this paper, with
Islamic culture and architecture in Iran, which as a bridge, joins the emphasis on dialectic between inside and outside, the in-
the past and present by discovering new communities. On the between space is chosen to express this issue more clearly.
other hand, progress in urbanization in Iran is leading dwellers
to divide the house from a traditional multifamily house to In-between Space in Iranian Traditional
the single house in an apartment. Joining each unit together, Architecture
even connecting and the relationship of spaces inside each Iranian Islamic architecture is more than just a spectacle of
housing by the transition space, are practical experiences that domes and minarets, perfumed pleasure palaces and exquisite
Iranian Islamic architecture has had, and were being utilized in turquoise tiles; it is a true expression of a rich culture and its
traditional housing plans. belief in Islam that has unified countries as far apart as Spain
There is another approach to this spaces that looks through and China, Central Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, over some
climate concerns and studies on role of in-between spaces thousand years and more. Iranian buildings express the religious
design on thermal comfort of living spaces. Taleghani et al. beliefs, social and economic structure, political motivation and
(2012) have said: Transitional spaces are potentially and visual sensibility of a pervasive and unified tradition (Mofidi
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International Journal of Architecture and Urban Development
Shemirani, 2011). closed front space with a height the same as that of roof. These
Asadi and et al. has done a research on transition space in spaces performed their unique feature along with open and
Iranian housing typology and they are said: Transition space close spaces to personify the building an independent identity
is a place that has control on privacy, movement, and covers (Soleymani et al., 2011).
spaces from foreign sight. In fact, all of these are included in
the function of transition space in the housing plan according
to Islamic culture in Iran. Unfortunately, like more of the third
world countries, mimicry of mode and modernization in Iran
influences culture too much, as well as social and physical
metamorphosis as transition space in housing plans; whereas
it is lost in the more contemporary dwelling plans (Asadi et
al., 2015).
The Islamic traditional housing plans follow Islamic culture
and beliefs on the separation and control of relationships
between the family members and the outsiders, and women
and foreigners. The door of the house in this place had retreat,
and it created a place (transition space) for waiting until the
door was opened, or for discussion. Usually, this place had two
platforms for the elderly to sit on and rest. Also, people could
stay in that place without inconvenience to other passengers in
the alley or street(Asadi et al., 2015). Fig. 2: In-between space: Ivan, Ameri house, Kashan, Iran.
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International Journal of Architecture and Urban Development
Table 1: purposes of in-between
CONCLUSION
This paper aimed to understand nature of architectural space,
its parts- inside and outside- and connection between them.
Also by focus on methods of establishment this connection,
Fig. 6: Place to pass as an in-between space, Niavaran apartment,
explored the ways for improving whole architectural space
Tehran, by M.R.Nikbakht
quality and enhancing dialectic between inside space and
outside environment. Architecture makes inside spaces as a
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Vol.5, No.3, Summer 2015
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