ABSTRACT
Distinct from but related to the theme of ‘transition, hierarchy, heart’ – which concerns entrance, movement, transformation, arrival – ‘in-between’ is about being neither here nor there. It concerns zones that are neither inside nor outside, neither in the past nor the future but in-between. Thoreau sits between inside and outside, contemplating the world and musing on life. Framed by doorways of many kinds across the world, this is a timeless activity. No doubt prehistoric troglodytes lit fires and sat together at the entrance of their cave. A doorway on its own can be the stimulus for the identification of an informal ‘in-between’ place. Architecture can make such places more elaborate too, usually by means of the basic elements of platform, columns and roof. Considering buildings in terms of the ‘in-between’ expands one's understanding of the powers of architecture. The ‘in-between’ is not readily apparent in photographs. It is apparent in plans and sections but best appreciated through first-hand experience.
