In today’s world, not everyone is drawn to monumental or palace-like architecture. Many people find calm and comfort in liminal spaces. Are you thinking of liminal spaces as complicated? They are not. Liminal spaces can be any boundary-breaking areas within a structure, such as staircases, corridors, sidewalks, or waiting areas. These spaces highlight the transition between distinct environments, offering a moment of pause, emotional connection, and mental relief.
Read this blog to understand what liminal spaces are in architecture, their importance, major characteristics, different types, and key design principles.
What Are Liminal Spaces in Architecture?
The term ‘liminal’ originates from the Latin word ‘limen’, which means ‘threshold’.
In the architectural context, liminal spaces are the “in-between” or “threshold” areas that are used to connect two different spaces or levels, such as corridors, staircases, and lobbies. These spaces are commonly designed as movement spaces from one place to another. A few examples of liminal places are:
- Hotel or Hospital corridors
- Stairways
- Elevator lobbies
These unlabelled spaces are not just fixed for the purpose of transitional spaces in buildings; they can also offer moments for pause, reflection, or casual interaction. When thoughtfully designed, these transitional zones can support brief rest, observation, or relaxation, enhancing both the spatial experience and overall usability of the building.
Why is Gen Z Obsessed with Liminal Spaces: The Psychology Behind Them
The following are the major reasons why Gen Z and others like liminal spaces more than grand rooms and views:
Mood Improvement: A well-designed liminal space can enhance your mood through changes in light, views, or scale, sparking curiosity and making the movement itself enjoyable.
Improvise Social Interaction: The spacious courtyards, corridors, and lobby can be used for family time or for social interaction, allowing for improvising connections.
Spaces for Reflection: These spaces offer a momentary pause, allowing individuals to orient themselves before moving into a new environment. This intentional design can create memorable, rhythmic experiences that improve awareness and emotional connection to a building or place.
Liveability and Usability: In homes and commercial buildings, liminal spaces improve liveability by regulating flow, privacy, and comfort. They help manage noise, temperature, and circulation while providing short moments for orientation or pause.
Key Characteristics of Liminal Architecture
The following are the major characteristics of liminal architecture:
- Transitional Design: Liminal spaces are often placed between two or more different areas, such as inside and outside, private and public, and dark & light.
- Ambiguous Boundaries: These boundary-breaking spaces are neither fully enclosed nor open. Thus, they are used to conduct short meetings and as waiting spaces.
- Guiding Light: There will be a considerable translation of light with brightness, shadow, and openness for two spaces, making a difference. Careful use of light can enhance the atmosphere.
- Temporary Use: These spaces are suitable for taking short breaks rather than long periods of occupancy.
- Material Transitions: Clear changes in materials can be observed between different spaces, including variations in flooring, ceiling height, and textures, highlighting the transition between two distinct areas.
Types of Liminal Spaces in Buildings
Entry and Threshold Spaces
These spaces mark the transition between exterior and interior, providing a buffer that enhances privacy and security. Well-designed thresholds can improve user comfort and set the tone for the building, requiring only minor modifications like adding a canopy or changing flooring material.
Examples: Porches, foyers, gateways
Circulation Zones
Examples: Corridors, staircases, ramps, bridges.
Circulation zones guide movement and regulate flow within buildings. Simple design elements—such as proper lighting, handrails, and material choices—can make these spaces safer and more pleasant, improving usability without major cost increases.
Semi-Open Living Spaces
These spaces blend indoor and outdoor environments, offering flexible areas for relaxation or socializing. They can be created with basic structural changes and add significant liveability by increasing natural light and ventilation, often at low cost. Examples: Verandas, courtyards, balconies.
Urban and Shared Liminal Spaces
Shared liminal spaces in urban environments, such as lobbies and transit zones, facilitate movement and social interaction. Their design often focuses on simple features like seating, lighting, and signage, which can greatly improve user experience and building functionality at minimal expense. Examples: Lobbies, passageways, transit zones.
Liminal Space Architecture Examples
The following are a few examples of liminal space architecture:
- Traditional courtyard and staircase designs of Indian architecture
- The corridors and arcades around the Roman Colosseum.
- Traditional Japanese tea houses with transitional spaces, like engawas (verandas).
How Liminal Spaces Add Value for Homeowners and Investors
Homeowners and investors can obtain the following benefits by choosing and building structures with liminal spaces in the building architecture:
- In the house architecture, liminal spaces like corridors, atriums, and semi-open verandas enhance ventilation by promoting the flow of natural breezes. Also, letting in maximum daylight to reduce dependence on artificial lighting directly minimises electricity bills by up to 20-30%.
- On compact urban plots common in Bengaluru or Mumbai, liminal designs create seamless spatial flow. Wide hallways and light wells eliminate cramped feelings, making small footprints feel expansive and functional.
- Homeowners consider these spaces as luxurious retreats, elevating daily living with airy, intuitive layouts. Investors reap higher resale value; properties with thoughtful liminal elements fetch 10-15% premiums, as per recent Knight Frank reports, signalling premium design.
Design Principles for Effective Liminal Spaces
To ensure functionality, aesthetics, and user experience, architects must consider the following major factors when incorporating liminal spaces into their designs.
Spatial Layout: The liminal spaces are mainly designed to connect two spaces; thus, they must be designed with sufficient space to promote easy movement. Make sure the space won’t cause any congestion, and the paths are clear without feeling narrow. If the paths are narrow or unclear, it can cause confusion to people.
Scale and Proportion: Ensure that the size of the space is proportionate and scaled appropriately to the size of the building. It should not be too small or too large to avoid feeling tight and empty.
Lighting: Design the space strategically to let in maximum natural light; if not possible, use layered artificial light. This will increase the visibility and enhance the mood with a welcoming feel.
Materiality: Since liminal spaces involve the movement of people with considerable foot traffic, the material options here must be of the best quality. Often pick the materials that complement the surroundings.
Accessibility: Make sure to involve universal design principles so that everyone, including children, elderly people, and people with mobility issues, can use the space comfortably.
Comfort: Give importance to user comfort by considering climate control, proper ventilation, and the inclusion of ergonomic furniture. Avoid general mistakes like dark corridors and dead spaces.
Conclusion
Liminal spaces in any structure offer an opportunity for designers to think creatively and create cosy areas where people can take a break and relax. Most modern architectural styles often include these spaces to improve comfort and usability. Liminal spaces also connect strongly with human emotions; when designed well, they can affect how people feel and interact with their surroundings. This is why they add a fresh, user-friendly approach to architecture that considers different needs and experiences. Choosing a reliable construction company like Brick & Bolt helps ensure your building includes well-designed liminal spaces that enhance everyday life.
FAQs
Why is Gen Z obsessed with liminal spaces?
Gen Z is drawn to liminal spaces for their nostalgic evocation of empty childhood places like malls and schools, amplified by pandemic isolation. These images offer eerie calm amid fast-paced digital lives.
What is an example of a liminal space?
An empty hallway at night or an abandoned shopping mall exemplifies a liminal space. These are transitional areas devoid of people, stirring unease and familiarity.
What is the liminal space theory?
Liminal space theory describes spaces of transition between states, invoking ambiguity, nostalgia, and temporal suspension. Popularized online, it captures in-between moments like waiting rooms or dawn edges.
Why is it called a liminal space?
“Liminal” derives from Latin “limen,” meaning threshold, denoting spaces on the boundary between two states or places. It highlights their transitional, “in-between” essence.