TRANSITIONAL SPACES:

BETWEEN INDOOR AND

OUTDOOR SPACES.

DULIS
15001006021
INTRODUCTION
o Transitional space is a space which can be experienced between indoor and
outdoor worlds.
o It is known as a buffer zone or a passage from inside to outside and these
spaces act both as a buffer space and a physical link.
o The transition space, is neither wholly private nor public, neither external nor
internal. It can be defined as an indefinite zone, which is defined by the
relationship of existing extreme zones.
o These spaces are articulated units like colonnades, aisles, courtyards, water
bodies, openings like doorways, pathways, grounds, patio, gardens, trellis,
pergolas, foyers, lobbies etc.

TYPES OF TRANSITIONAL SPACES:

A) Transitions within Buildings:
Entrance Foyer , Atrium, Corridors, Straircase, Courtyard, Different movement zones etc
B) Transitions in between Buildings:
Porch, Bridges, Streets, Paths, Courtyard, Corridor, Open spaces like gardens, lawns etc
AIM:
o To study different kinds of transitions that connect two different spaces.
o To study the impact of these spaces on human behaviour with the purpose of increasing human
interaction.

OBJECTIVES:
o To study different types of connectivity of a building with it’s surroundings.
o To study elements which encourage human comfort and human interaction.
o To study different material, textures, colors and built form which can change human behaviour and their
psychology.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION:

o This study will focus only on transitional spaces between commercial areas on urban level.

VALIDITY OF THE PROJECT:

o Transitional spaces are not spaces left by accident as they contribute to provide relief from pressure and
vexation in people’s life.
o The dissertation therefore investigates the potential of transitional spaces.
LITERATURE STUDY:
Evolution of Transitional Spaces:
• Early Passages:
o Passages have always played a role of creating a sense of separation and connection side by
side. Looking back at the times, when rivers, valleys and varied land conditions created
passages that helped human and animals to cross between origin and destination, which they
still do.
o Along with connection, they also formed the national boundaries and area divisions. Thus,
this defines the transitional nature of the passages. The ides of natural passages across
hurdles has parallel presentation in traditional urban structures like the bridges erected to
shorten spans. Gardens, courtyards also underpin the idea of shortcut. They also separate the
public and vehicular traffic.
• Modern Passages:
o Commercializing 'passages' was the modern approach that started in the early 18th and late
19th century as a result of Industrialisation.
o Initially, it started by inserting an urbanized passage between uneven agricultural plots. To
increase general density these passages were covered by a glass roof with the upper floors
laid with apartments, bars, restaurants, cabarets, shops, and offices. This ideology became
successful and was further explored by Walter Benjamin and other artistic movements.
HUMAN ATTRIBUTES OF THE CONCEPTION OF THE
SPACE:

• Human nature is to identify a space before adapting itself into different environments.

PERCEPTION: COGNITION: SPATIAL BEHAVIOUR:

The process of receiving or
obtaining information is
perception. This process
occurs by the 5 senses i.e.
•Tactile stimuli (touch)
•Gustatory (taste)
•Olfactory (smell)
•Auditory (ear)
•Visual (eye)
It is basically concerned with A person will experience and
the mind, the issue of area and continue to imagine
symbolic knowledge, until he is quite sure about the
thinking, remembering, space.
feeling, learning and mental If in case he fails to perceive
development. It interprets the what is in front of him, he
information got by will try to change the
perception. environment.
Life between buildings (By Jan Gehl):
o In his book, he observes the life of cities on bigger scale with daily activities of
humans in public spaces.
o He analysed human proportions with surrounding structures and experienced various
components that enhance or reduce pedestrianisation across and around the public
space.
o Those components are:
- Building heights
- Orientation of entrance
- Multifunctional area
- Activity frontage
- Density
- Modes of transport (cyclist and pedestrian)
- Accessibility
- Visibility from immediate surrounding areas
o He stated that static activities and physical elements can make people stop and spend
more time with the space.
BASIC FORMATION OF A SPACE:
• Any space takes its form from the objects in its
surroundings such as buildings, sky, trees, rocks etc.
• Any space established by the perceived relationship
between the screen, object and surface.
• The elements used can be natural elements such as
rocks, trees, plants, sky, ground etc or built elements
such as screens, pergolas, buildings, slabs, paved floors,
roofs and walls. The type and character of these spaces
differ according to the need for which the particular
space is used.
INSIDE/OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIP:

o Every building creates two spaces at the same time- outdoor space and indoor space.
o A relationship is the connection between two things. Here, that is inside and outside space that
ultimately leads us to the idea of space.
o The relationship is defined as:
“WHOLE = PART + CONNECTION + PART”
o Space can be seen as the overall frame. Space is the ‘whole’ which is a result of the relationship
between outside and inside.
o The difference between outside space and inside space is defined by the behaviour and perception
of human. This space becomes the in between space. It could be known as a connection, a line of
tension, a boundary or a transitory space.
 CLOSED - OPEN
o A person being inside or outside – implicate that there is a
physical boundary of space.
o The threshold is not a proper line that we cross, rather it is zones
or spatial activities that mark the transition between inside and
outside.
• OPENINGS
o Windows and doors are first step towards opening up a space.
When they are open, they are an effective physical opening, while
they act as a visual opening, if they are glazed when closed
o It gives a direct relationship between outside and inside.
o Amongst the simplest function of a window is that it makes it
possible to observe the outside world from interior space. It opens
the interior to the world as a whole. The window places the small
living space in the wide world.
OPEN SPACE:

o Space is something that is limited, but we see open space as something that is partially
unlimited.
o The structural elements of open space are most likely to be flat surfaces, planes, panels,
but also solids, 3D elements
o The benefits that open space provides to citizens can be broken into four basic forms;
• Recreation
• Ecology
• Aesthetic value
• Positive health impacts.

VISUAL COMFORT IN URBAN SPACE:

Visual comfort in an open space can be dependent on:
• SUNLIGHT PENETRATION AND VISUAL COMFORT
• ILLUMINANCE LEVELS AND GLARE
• SKY VIEW FROM OPEN SPACES
 DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS:
o The first issue that arises in the design process is the profile of the seasonal use of the open space. Regarding
the summer period, temperature control is essential for the achievement of comfort.
o Shading is the most essential factor for temperature control and a significant parameter for visual comfort as
well.
o A variety of design elements can be used for adequate shading for the desirable shadow pattern i.e. vegetation
etc.
o vertical or sloped shading devices like walls, panels or bushes are preferable to placed on the western side
of the site. A similar shadow pattern can be formed by trees with the advantage of air cooling or solar
exposure in winters.
o Horizontal devices such as pergolas can provide shadow for long hours and can also be used for shading the
walking paths or long shaped areas like pedestrian zones.
o Wind channelling in the summer is important for heat extraction from the open space. Vertical vegetation or
panels can be used in order to redirect the air in specific areas. Water surfaces in the form of waterfalls,
water films, fountains or ponds can contribute to air cooling in combination with the vegetation.
o Surface materials are a very important factor for both thermal and visual environment. Light colours and
reflective surfaces can prevent surface overheating but may cause thermal reflection and glare for users and
on the surrounding buildings and surfaces.
o In winters, the main purpose of the design is to protect the open space from rain and cold wind and to allow
for solar exposure. Deciduous trees permit solar exposure but evergreen trees act as an effective wind
barriers.
TRANSITION SPACES IN INDIAN ARCHITECTURE:
COURTYARD AS A TRANSITION SPACE:
o A courtyard is a medium to have a controlled yet direct connection
between indoor and outdoor spaces.
o Courtyard act as a very fundamental interaction space. Apart from
interaction, a wide range of activities could extent into this space. These
spaces are also designed for responding to climate conditions and
sometimes the cultural needs of the community. They also contribute to the
spatial quality by creating a calm environment.
o The scale of the courtyards were according to the human proportions to
make it more comfortable and habitable space.

ENTRANCE OR THRESHOLD AS A TRANSITION SPACE:

o The threshold or the transition space is the space along which one
approaches the building prior to actually entering inside.
o Without the threshold, almost no transition spaces would have been possible
in architecture
o An entrance or a thresholds best expresses the most significant transitional
relationship between two distinct realms; the inside and outside, private
and public or open and closed.
 Comparative Analysis:
Parameters Cyber Hub India Habitat Federal Plaza
Centre
Location DLF Phase 2, New Delhi, India San Francisco,
Gurugram, Haryana USA
Year of 2013 1992 2007
Completion
Architect M. Paul Friedberg Joseph Allen Stein – Arthur Brown Jr.
and Partners + Stein, Doshi and CYBER HUB, GURUGRAM
Hafeez Contractor Bhalla Architects
+AWA Lighting
Designers
Site Area 10.6 Ha 4 Ha

Built-up area 4,00,136 sq.m. 53,000 sq.m. 56,206 sq. m.

FAR 3.75 1.4 IHC, NEW DELHI

Parking 3 basements -7,800 Basements- 933 cars, No parking

cars for offices, 500 2000 two - wheelers
cars for the hub.
Program Offices, Retail, Offices, Art Offices
Exhibition Hall, galleries, Convention
Restaurants, Centre, Auditorium,
Amphitheatre, Media Theatres, Member
Room. Facilities ,Library and
Resource Centre, FEDERAL PLAZA, USA
Restaurants.
 Room. Facilities ,Library and
Parameters Cyber Hub India Centre,
Resource Habitat Federal Plaza
Centre
Restaurants.
Site Planning
Location Peripheral
DLF Phasevehicular
2, Peripheral
New Delhi,vehicular
India No
Sanmovement
Francisco,of
movement. Vertical
Gurugram, Haryana motion. Built zoned vehicles.
USA Connects
zoning- lower into two blocks- one building to
Year of 2013 activity
cultural 1992 & cultural.
offices 2007 by
another
Completion floors and above Masses connected by pedestrian
Architect workplaces. Hub has
M. Paul Friedberg courts.
Joseph Allen Stein – movement.
Arthur Brown Jr.
been organized
and Partners + along Stein, Doshi and
aHafeez
path. Contractor Bhalla Architects
Alienating nature of Use of materials and Use of greenery, CYBER HUB, GURUGRAM
Architectural +AWA Lighting
Expression large glass facades.
Designers greenery to introduce sitting spaces and
Site Area Lower
10.6 Hafloors respond humanising
4 Ha scale to inclusive
to human scale. the large project. architecture.
Type of public Public spaces is loud Inward looking Walking area,
Built-up area
space 4,00,136
and sq.m.
inviting. 53,000space.
public sq.m. 56,206spaces,
sitting sq. m.
Activities Sensitive good environment
FAR surroundings.
3.75 Good landscaping-
1.4 an oasis
environment for in the midst of the IHC, NEW DELHI
pedestrians due city’s chaos.
Parking 3 basements
lighting, -7,800
seating and Basements- 933 cars, No parking
cars for offices, 500
shading. 2000 two - wheelers
Types of cars for thestaircase
Corridors, hub. Bridges, courtyards, Ramps, tracks
Program
Transitional Offices, Retail, Offices, Art
corridors, staircase. Offices
Exhibition Hall, galleries, Convention
Space
Restaurants, Centre, Auditorium,
Activity at Extremely active Activities depends -
Amphitheatre, Media Theatres, Member
night because of F&Bs. on event hosted.
Room. Facilities ,Library and FEDERAL PLAZA, USA
Inferences -Built upon the idea Resource
-The site isCentre,
pedestrian -
 Parameters Cyber Hub India Habitat Federal Plaza
Centre
Activity
Locationat Extremely
DLF Phase active
2, Activities
New Delhi,depends
India San -Francisco,
night because of Haryana
Gurugram, F&Bs. on event hosted. USA
Inferences
Year of -Built
2013 upon the idea -The
1992 site is pedestrian 2007-
Completion of TOD. friendly, vehicular
-Vehicular movement movement is
Architect M.restricted
is Paul Friedberg
and is not Joseph Allen
restricted inside the–
Stein Arthur Brown Jr.
and Partners
allowed inside + site. Stein, Doshi and
site.
Hafeez Contractor
-Good inside outside -Bhalla Architects
The nature of public
+AWA Lighting
relationship. space created is
Designers
-Adequate shading, inward looking, with
Site Area 10.6 Hapatches of
sitting, 4 Ha
volumes containing
green are provided. the inside from the
Built-up area -Transitional
4,00,136 sq.m. spaces outside.
53,000 sq.m. 56,206 sq. m.
like corridors, -Properties and
courtyards are material used for
FAR 3.75
provided. 1.4
paving and cladding-
-The space feels very brick, stone and tiles
Parking interesting.
3 basements -7,800 create a intersecting
Basements- 933 cars, No parking
-Fulfilling all the500
cars for offices, façade
2000 twoand- lend it a
wheelers
needs
cars forofthe
thathub.
space. more humanizing
Program Offices, Retail, scale.
Offices, Art Offices
Exhibition Hall, galleries, Convention
Restaurants, Centre, Auditorium,
Amphitheatre, Media Theatres, Member
 Conclusion:

• Transitional space is a connection between two different spaces. It is a space from where we can observe a
space without even entering into that space. Transitional space acts as a barrier in between two spaces and
helps to connect them.
• Transitional spaces plays a very major role in connecting these spaces and in designing a space. After all the
research, we can say that transitional spaces, depending on the scale of it, plays a very important role in
human behaviour and their psychology.
• It is very important to design a transitional space properly because these spaces makes a whole space
complete.
• WHOLE= PART+CONNECTION+PART
• One of the important functions of transitional spaces is that it plays an important role in changing behaviour
of a person and adds visual comfort to the design and helps in creating a better indoor space.
• Eg. The layer of the corridor on the periphery of a built form, reduces the penetration of direct sun and
reduces glare, which results in cooler indoor space and a comfortable environment.
• An enclosed or semi closed passage connecting two spaces creates a comfortable transition for the occupants
using that space.
• Therefore, transitional spaces can create a very interesting space overall. It contributes to the spatial quality of
a space, whatever be the setting and context. Its role is functional, social, symbolic and visual.
THANKYOU