Architecture: Space

In architecture, space is the volumetric whole in which human activities occur, perceived both physically and mentally, experienced, and imbued with meaning. Space is not merely a concept limited to emptiness; it is a multilayered phenomenon shaped by the arrangement of surfaces that define it, materials, light, scale, and its relationship with the user.

Origin and Theoretical Background

The word “space” derives from the Arabic root “kevn,” meaning “existence,” and throughout history has been regarded not only as a physical location but also as a meaningful context surrounding human existence. In architectural history, space became a central concept particularly in the 20th century under the influence of phenomenological and hermeneutic approaches. These perspectives treated space not as a mere geometric and physical entity but as a dynamic structure that gains meaning through human experience.

With modernism, space transformed into a design element prioritizing functionality and simplicity; pioneers such as Le Corbusier defined the building as a functional organism through the concept of “machines for living.” During this period, the perception of space was shaped by order and rationality, leading to a new architectural language characterized by open and fluid plans designed to facilitate human life.

In the Brutalist movement, space was designed with raw concrete surfaces and heavy massing to create a powerful physical and emotional impact on the individual. During this era, the building’s exposure of raw materials and monumental scale revealed that space was not merely a functional area but also a manifestation of power and belonging.

With the advent of the digital age, the perception of space extended beyond physical boundaries; with the development of virtual environments and digital technologies, space has become an experience that is no longer confined to physical existence but also occurs on digital platforms. Virtual spaces, digital architectural applications, and augmented reality technologies have eliminated the necessity of defining space solely through tangible existence, offering users the ability to recreate spatial experience within digital environments.

Within this historical process, space has evolved into a multilayered concept encompassing not only the relationship humans establish with their physical environment but also their existence in digital and virtual realms; thus, today it is perceived, experienced, and interpreted as a reality that exists simultaneously in both material and virtual dimensions.

Physical Characteristics

Architectural space is more than a physical void enclosed by defined boundaries and architectural elements; it is also a presence that is represented and expressed through various means of communication. The physical boundaries of space are shaped by vertical elements (walls, columns) and horizontal elements (floors, ceilings), while the arrangement, proportion, material selection, and environmental factors such as light determine its perceptibility and sensory qualities. On the other hand, space takes form within the architect’s mental world even before construction begins, and these ideas are materialized through representational techniques such as plans, sections, perspectives, and axonometric drawings. These representations convey not only the geometric properties of space but also its volumetric relationships, spatial continuity, and the emotional interaction it will establish with the user. In this context, various drawing and visualization methods—from two-dimensional technical drawings to three-dimensional digital modeling—enhance the understanding of the designed space’s technical and aesthetic qualities. Thus, architectural space becomes a multidimensional phenomenon that exists both physically and representationally.

Perceptual and Experiential Dimension

Space is not merely a visual perceptual object but an experiential field sensed through all the senses and imbued with meaning through the individual’s bodily and cognitive interaction. Multiple senses—including touch, hearing, smell, and even thermal perception—deepen the psychological and emotional effects of space on its users. In this context, space becomes not only a physical environment but also an entity that leaves traces in the individual’s memory, enables the formation of emotional bonds, and strengthens the sense of identification with place. As Juhani Pallasmaa emphasized, architecture is an art not only seen by the eye but also perceived “with the skin’s eyes”; therefore, the design of space must consider all sensory dimensions of user experience.

Distinction Between Space and Place

In many theoretical approaches, space denotes an abstract, universal, and objective arrangement, while “place” is its concrete manifestation, shaped by human experience, emotional connections, and social interactions, acquiring identity and character. In this sense, every place contains a space, but not every space acquires the quality of a “place” through its relationship with humans. For space to become a “place,” it is not sufficient to merely exist as a physical entity; it must also become an environment that leaves traces in individuals’ memories, is nourished by memories and emotions, and hosts social interactions and cultural meanings.

As environmental-behavior theorists such as Edward Relph and Yi-Fu Tuan have emphasized, the concept of place emerges when individuals feel a sense of belonging to a space, form an emotional connection with it, and develop an attachment over time. In this process, the role of architectural design is not merely to produce functional structures but to create original and characterful spaces that leave meaningful and lasting impressions in users’ memories. Thus, space becomes a “place” by nurturing individual and collective memory, supporting cultural continuity, and deeply embedding itself in human life.

Historical Approaches in Architecture

Since antiquity, space in architecture has been defined through proportional and geometric arrangements; particularly in Ancient Greek and Roman architecture, ideal proportions and symmetry were accepted as fundamental elements of both aesthetic and structural unity. During this period, space was conceived as a harmony reflecting the order of the cosmos. With the Renaissance, the understanding of space was reinterpreted through a human-centered perspective; drawing from Vitruvius’s system of proportions based on the human body, numerical compositions and rules of perspective became indispensable tools of architectural design.

Thinkers such as Leon Battista Alberti and Leonardo da Vinci developed approaches linking space to mathematical order and aesthetic balance. In the 19th and 20th centuries, however, the concept of space became too complex to be explained solely by physical and numerical criteria; August Schmarsow defined space as the fundamental element of architecture, treating it as a dynamic structure related to human movement and perception.

According to Schmarsow, architecture must design not only the formal boundaries of space but also the movement and experience of humans within those boundaries. In the same century, Sigfried Giedion, in his work Space, Time and Architecture, addressed the concept of space through the dimensions of temporal continuity and experience, deepening the modern understanding of architectural space. Giedion argued that space is not merely a three-dimensional entity but a multilayered phenomenon shaped by historical processes, technological advancements, and social transformations.

This historical development laid the groundwork for the concept of space in architecture to evolve from being merely a structural and geometric element into a dynamic and multidimensional structure interwoven with human experience, movement, perception, and cultural context.

Contemporary Interpretations

Today, space is understood not only through its structural and physical properties but also as a multilayered phenomenon shaped by social, cultural, psychological, and environmental interactions. The emotional bond users form with space, their sense of belonging, and their ways of experiencing and using it are now recognized as among the strongest factors determining a building’s meaning and identity.