CHAPTER 3
Interior Place and Its Components
INSTRUCTIONAL OBjEcTIVES
+ Describe the differences between function, space, and place.
+ Present and describe the basic components of place.
+ Explain the different prominence levels of domains.
+ Describe the components of circulation systems: arival
spaces, paths, and nodes,
+ Explain the hierarchical nature of paths.
+ Explain the role and importance of nodes in interior
circulation systems,
+ Show and describe various levels of openness of barriers.
+ Explain the various levels of invitation provided by diferent
types of connectors
+ Explain the role of project ends in providing a connection to
the restof the world outside the project.
+ Explain the role of furnishings as spatial modifiersin interior
‘environments
+ Explain the role of interlor landmarks in interior
‘environments.
35Inthe immensity and confusion of te environment, certain portions of space assume
‘the valve of place. They oe dentable, can be ponted ou by others, onl suggest
‘ays of behavior. Some places eeintended for our movements ond exchanges, vers
encourage withsrama and isolation Te place ots suggests on action ora pause,
«een fonly mento. is frms are assoioted wit event which accommodates or
which it has once acommedated, and with other similar places and events.
—Plene voo Als, Element of Aehtecute: Fom Form to Flace
1 cUAPTER 2 we reviewed the basic events of
peopleh experiences isde bulngs and other
‘onsidrations tat tfc the bling expeienes
In this chapter we bein t focus on plea the
bic unio interior desig, Mone special we expla
‘hebasiccomponensofprjetiatermsafplace Yul
see that there are no 120 many types of place in ble
‘ngs when we generalize them int orbs clegoree
‘We ist expan the concept of plas ceta oe 0
thisbook Buldingsarcallstions ofplaces, nat fin
tions, The basic components of place ae explained a
system we can use to concepts projects,
FUNCTION, SPACE, AND PLACE
In design we commonly use the terms fanction, spss,
and place Is important to understand the difeences
between these tue concep and ow they ae relied.
‘ou are most likely fie withthe Hea of function
5 used in the environmental design dicing. sim
‘By refs to the things people (or animal, plans, ot
‘machines doinaspeicenvronment Ths tanh
sped arrangements of spaces, unishings and equip-
‘meat and particlr placements ofthe prope within the
required spces. To ze an aaogy fom teste, function
lavoles the actos (uses) wing pros furnishings and
equipment to perform certain ole,
‘Space ell round us, onthe exterior at well athe
lotevior ofthe buildings we occupy. When we design
andbwild projets, we claim space and subdivide
In particular way to sult the ageds ofthe project. The
spaces 50 dein have speci houndaris, shapes, and
imensons. This act of dfnion ad shaping tins
orms genetic space into the kind of space designers
36 stem mremion srece
‘work wit: architectural spac, But designers do more
than jst define space. These defined paces sully cor
respond to speic functions that occur in them. Ther
esgn is aso developed further ap given pvticular
turacteritis ( st those specif fnctons and to
refs the general character ofthe poet. Openings ave
placed suateical,sueicesreaicate, end subareas
Asin during this proces of cusiowistion in ode to
ee tbe particular egurementsof people who wl,
cceupy the spaces the tata il take place ini
‘he eating entronmentceies eg merely athe:
rural pce (stnough it on ail be eetrbed interme
of boundaries, shapes. dimensions, 0 on) an noe
becomes habitable pace
(Oral the space in the eater, the pace occpied by
thessgehssbeen chimed forthe fnctons performed by
theatre. ths some ecogaiabelinity, andthe ations
‘ofthe actors occur on this tage, During a pay, the tage
scenery portrays tnt pct tha fen cage fom
scene to Scene each having unigue psc] qualities and
rented acts, Inthe interior projets we design the
setnge within paral space gently don change
hat much, and defined places tend 9 have content
goalies and related functions. Thus, he bar ina esa
‘an’ or te wating rom ina dental iis din
_guihabe asa speci an unique ple from day ody
‘nfm wek to wee,
Place ate las recogaiableaslcrete nts ar
Ing on deniiable purpose and a partclar character
‘Tey become reogpzae a aving lint win whieh
specie evens of fntions take pce. While the tem
“pace” and “pace” can sometimes be sed otrchange
Ahly, "pace ends to decide atl space more con
Peel adhoc. place canbeomposed of several
pce at long thangs opt a whole (Pgure3),‘peppers ep, qs ose ata a
henna
A pojecthaving dozens of functions performed by a=
ferent peopl wll acquire particu form bated on the
number and relationship of places created bythe designee
Jor the projet. Ata designer youavaye havea choice of
howto bres the funtion nt dsrte compartment
and how t assemble these compartment, Deinltaton
sod dieeniation become pore cle with hich >
chew pce How many places you crest and what sa,
‘proportion, and shape you give thers becomes eri
‘When they ae wel conceived ear and wel pacedthey
ge enlronmente tong sense of enty and ake a
stro impact
In thischapter we are not concerned wit properties of
space such se, proportion, td geometry. Our inet
here isto discuss the geevesypes of pices that ecu
Interioc projects. Speclc properties of space wil be ds-
cused the nent chapter
‘BASIC COMPONENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT
(PLACE ELEMENTS)
‘tthe most base lve Inert entree can be
reduced to places we vst 10 do something (destine
‘on plce) and pace that ely ws gst there (rel:
sion systems). The spall characters of these two
‘spesof places ate defined bythe Boundarcearoundand
he objets within these place. With these four catego
ries (destination places, cteulation systems, boundar
Jet, and object) and sme elaboration we ea etabih
‘grap often clement el for conspiring int
sor space
"The group i combination of Kevin Leh five de
ments of ban imgebiiy.! Chriian Nerbeg Sul’
lemens of existential space and some miaoe additions
that address aspects wesc to interiors. Lypctie stad
les revealed that people make sense of urban surround
ings by euking ental sap that onsite fxtre
fire hinds of ements dss, pats, node, ges, and
landmarts. They ate defined below, whee they occur
"Novberg Seo model feist pace eres tree
core elements: centers, paths, and domains For an exp
tation of thee, ae the capa in this chapter A detcrp
tin ofthe ten place elements flows
Destination Paces,
Destination places canbe categorie es danas or en
tes depending on tht degee of prominunce.
Domains
Domine sre recognizable ceions or seat They ate
analogous to what Lynch called sri Lynch defines
Aistecs 28 “med wo lage sections of he cy on
‘enived ofa having two-dimensional extent, which the
‘observer mentally enters aside of and which ae te
‘ognize as having some common ideale char
ace"? NorbergSchulzs concept af danni i beter
sated for intel spaces since domals dst eer the
lange area connotations of Lynch ditt. Despite
theeierence in sea, however, the cone ae nearly
Interchangeable A diets uty some neighborhood
(cesidental or ater) with recogni bounds
fev and «pacar character bees onthe Kind of poo
le who inka and the thing hey do You ay not
Inenion euace ano ms conponetas 37be familiar withthe neighborhood, but you sre likely
(0 have t Ist some dea about is general extent. In
Some cases there may be multiple adacent neighbor:
Ihoods. and ven You ae nt flo with ese neigh-
bochoods you may have general ides of the ae they
‘occupy. and maybe even a rese of where one ends and
thenest onebegine,
‘The concep isthe same fr nero projects ahough
‘he sae isl. Te department in an feo etal
store, the unis in 2 edt-ere clint, and the if
‘at dining rooms in large restaurant are ll examples
of dors in tsiors, Domain are the basic destna-
‘os infty. They ae the places people go to pe
form whatever actives they caret dobe it work, hop,
Projets sully const of clltion of donne
sccommmodated based on the requirements ofthe pro
ram, They are important because they constitu the
_rstestaren of projet They ze the spaces where users
spend the most time
centers
‘Centers are speci destination places. You can think
of them as very special domala. The term comes fom
Norberg Schulz. Centers are wellknown ples where
particulary meaning setts ad social ntesctions
"ake place They teboth the goals oward ich we move
fd the potns of depareue fom shlch we orient out
sees in elton tthe ofthe vironment
(OF all he places people vit inside buildings, these
ae the mot special. In public project they are ws
ally the places whete portant gop activites happen.
samples of centers icude the principal conference
oom in an ofce, he msn dining hl in estat,
ithe main lounge ofahot. There mportanecaions
quire cer and ect acces in sme ees, they een
regula eeroal approach,
Centers at important during planning besa they
require strategic plcemet, You shoal consider their
Toctions before those ofthe es important ples.
any oj users wil oient theses in relation
"hose centers. Whether they Become the great big sce
st the entrance, the sacred space inthe mid, or the
restigus (or mytrious) destination at he end of 30
38. Swami msnion spece
arene oman ee thay spies ad
Beemer dapat eat sts
‘ens anton,
oneself ses
hcg encase li
‘import path, centers slays demand prominent plac.
‘eo. igre 3. shows the main suri i traning
faci uly oe ofthe center of ha pst,
‘usimportanttonotethat otal prose needcenters
[tis quite common to Sn restaurants where al dining
anes are of emllarsportance a etal stoves with
‘dominant departments. Another mportant aspect,
of centers to noes hat i thts etiv importance
‘hat males them center. gute 33 shows a phetograph
‘fone ofmany open aren an ois, of many sit
{ar donne inte Say. Figure. 0 the ther hand,
sos lng and prestigious public meting toem of a
ing, leaving tle doubt that ti, deed one ofthe
‘spoil destinations eve centerowes Tenancies mot pegs sts
‘ie paaeg nent oe,
‘Circulation Systems
‘Curculaton systems determine the way you nove sround
bingo ity. To a ret extent, your impressions
of pacar interior ensronnent wll depend on your
experience while moving from place to place through
the creation system, Hee we dstingush among thee
bre componente of thee system: arial apace, the
puta ders and nodes.
‘val Space
"The place yo arive when vtng any Sty of sch
portance hati deserves oa category san element
tthe cts there are usally many ecesspot bata
bulingrand thts tec sly ly one
entrance Thee inners, mich morethan in cis,
‘ts porble to conta the Sit npreston oso
“The arrival space serves to make a iil aver)
Impeaton a the visor and aio sevves a+ depart
Point othe rest ofthe fy often the place where
we ate ete snd where we check nt and get ection
‘on how to each aur destination thin the Bulding
Project. 1s importance and potest ae enoemous
gute 55 dows the reception are of an oie fc,
‘veryofenhearal spice to such ofc sues. igure 36
shows the rcv pace oan academe ding dipiy-
tng some special clan ad lighting Rs the
cling to highlights importance.
"he dsgn of aval spaces can combate greatly 6
the sense fonds enihment and espresion in
Fes tiseayne onesie onset bey es
ont tans dest tea,
Five 6ene onsen ction
st ects hve te a ats
heap hited ia loo sap,
sty. Antvalsareocasonsof tation betwen heinside
nd outs af the projet "Te mpact ofthe tansons
sd the ned to make route decisions produce gee
‘anaserage lvls of sess and, thereto, a sate of
heightened awareness
Paths
Paths are the channels of movernent tit ae use to get
sound, Lynch defines them asthe "channl long wbich
the observer cuomarihy, ocaionly. potently
moves" Paths connect spaces along uses o get fom
one to another. al achitecurl spaces eed paths for
movement whether theyre separate rom erntegeated
ve.theplacesthe seve Tey can beautoxomous paths
occustngousde the aesthey serve or ingrated paths
tireROn PUAcE wD ITs COMPONENTS 39Ravezr Pedepectepemastapan anne
leneeenbns i
coccating within the spaces they serve. Fgure 375-€
shows examples of erent pas
"Not enly do pols seve the fnction of anapoting
‘510 our destination but they are alo the astage pens
fem hich wepercevethe totaly of projec, spaces,
tnd dhe sequences. So important was this eeconary
faction for the great Sis architect Le Corbusier Ut
he developed the notin of promenade architecture?
2 caeilyorcheststed rout that reveled 2 buldings
spscer and thelr overall organ,
Pahssretheheastoftheceultionsysem. Note how
ve that while te solton est ees he teal
system of movement within a building o projet a pth
refrstoa pec epmenthaving pec charsctersic.
‘You could think of pats as channels of movement of i=
Hnetvechaacer that allow movement ord patil
exioations
‘Pulsare each Not al paths move ar many Feo
‘He or share the same dere of importance. A major cox-
doe na bay slzpor i anlogus to fea. Ahighty
stelted corde i ¢ moder ofc with ene or more
hee to sop st nd tal Is ansogius to pedetsn
stot, Deslgness should understand the concepts! and
Sansonal ferences beesn main and secondy paths
Main Pathe
Main path are equivalent to seen is. They dine
the main oreral circu sytem sd ge us to proms
nent dsnations They, le vents, tnd tobe he et
pblithoroughires for movement, the channels through
‘hich vskore moe, At sch they tony get people to
‘hee dasinatons bt alo provide veal and other pe
of sensory experince tht mike lnportnt impesions
40 shapiis utemiog space
98 isrsaarmiin ancnc
noes aes eas ep ea.
on stor and new user. Adon thy ep prod
senso sequence nd ar eso parlly eporale
foe the tense of unity and cohesiveness (or he oppo,
Chaos ofa prot igure 38 shows anesample of mia
patina prominent public area ofan sademic bung
Main pts are imporantcoateibuos othe percep
‘ons peopl fon obi esionment isi moving
ough loking om them that istrscllet impr
sons oles andthe peopl. Ama pti shape, pro
Peston degre of openness ln of dl ad name of
vents ll commaniate in important vas wih users end
storie The wie dscused ia Gage. Figure 39
sho main pth ins conferencing iy.Pau: ming ansaid oe,
tog iss tptfon ah pase aN
‘Secondry Paths
Secondary paths ae equilent to the sets nd alleys
four cites In interiors, they are ofen nanower and
es formal than the main paths Large acti ike ofce
compleses and age department stores usually haves et
ork ofmain and secondary path. The secondary pats
tend to be more wir, abough there no rst00
shy some of them should no delight the ws Therese
Instances when i might be appropiate to cones par
‘cule nnor path nto an experiential evading one.
‘tis not only the funcional importance of path eg:
ment that scout for tel inthe leach In pro}
‘tof ay even functional cacy, he designer often
seethrough etched lat doe not. Consequently. tig
shes a designer can create the dese lov of tanspar
ency othe oxen
hen at ea a the canespt generation sage af he
eign you should begin thinking about the desed
ate and degre of separation between places and
betwen ptr and places. Belge ofthe many ys
‘44 snaoine umeRIo8 soace
to separate ree wl enable you tobemae responsive to
‘he optima level of separation and more erste shost
‘hemeane yout to achive
Depending on their number, ie and configuration,
bares can ave immene eft a how mich of he
vial eld ia acne tone tine, hs ifuencng out
sense of order and orientation. They alcnce the sense
‘of drama as one moves aout the pact Thee shapes,
Pacemeat, and arangement serve 10 commuuniste 3
Portion fa projet expression,
connectors
‘Coniarytathe ides ofbarserietht faces. The points
‘of connection between adjacent spaces ate important
“determinants ofthe character and fs af those spaces,
(Options range fom the wellnowr (and often ore
sed) doorway to fallwidh openings between space
Here, we ditingulsh Between to broad categories
‘steve and panages—each witha multtude of alae
Hos, Gateways ead a formal aces points and invite
rmoverent between spaces, while passageways alow
‘movernent between paces in loser ls formal way.
Gateways
A gateway, a6 the mame implies is 3 dleaty defined
ot of entry. The most cman ones the doors. So
strongly do we atsocinte the symbol ofa cated opening
havingaswinglg door with the dasofentranceandesit.
that the dooray has become the qusessental example
‘ofa gateway For ou purposes, well dsinguish between
wand eatrywaysand ouknary eneyrays,
COninary entry have single «double doors oF