Threshold Spaces: The Transitional Spaces Between Outside and Inside in Traditional Indian Dwellings

This research paper examines threshold spaces in traditional housing within historic Indian cities, emphasizing how these transitional areas are shaped by cultural, social, and environmental influences. It underscores that thresholds function beyond mere physical divisions between interior and exter...

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Main Authors: Julia Nerantzia Tzortzi, Ishita Saxena
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Heritage
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/7/12/309
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author Julia Nerantzia Tzortzi
Ishita Saxena
author_facet Julia Nerantzia Tzortzi
Ishita Saxena
author_sort Julia Nerantzia Tzortzi
collection DOAJ
description This research paper examines threshold spaces in traditional housing within historic Indian cities, emphasizing how these transitional areas are shaped by cultural, social, and environmental influences. It underscores that thresholds function beyond mere physical divisions between interior and exterior; they are intricate spatial elements that engage the senses and perception. Key findings include the following: (a) Historical evolution: traditional dwellings display layers of history, shaped by cultural, economic, and climatic factors. (b) Character and morphology: this paper explores the qualities and structures of threshold spaces, analyzing features such as transparency, material choice, hierarchy, and enclosure. (c) Social significance: thresholds play essential roles, supporting a variety of activities, providing shelter, defining boundaries, enhancing community interaction and security, and contributing to residents’ identities. (d) Design implications: insights from this study suggest that a deeper understanding of these spaces can enhance design strategies for transitional areas in housing, highlighting their functional and socio-cultural value. The study adopts a structured comparative analysis of six case studies, evaluated at four scales—township, neighborhood, dwelling, and threshold—focusing on spatial parameters including design, function, definition, structure, and sequence. Overall, this paper highlights the critical role of threshold spaces in architecture and urban design, demonstrating their potential to enhance social interaction, define spatial relationships, and reflect cultural significance in contemporary design practices.
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spelling doaj-art-aab0f820d1984d1597a1b644fdcda75a2024-12-27T14:28:46ZengMDPI AGHeritage2571-94082024-11-017126683671110.3390/heritage7120309Threshold Spaces: The Transitional Spaces Between Outside and Inside in Traditional Indian DwellingsJulia Nerantzia Tzortzi0Ishita Saxena1Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Giuseppe Ponzio, 31, 20133 Milan, ItalyArchitecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Giuseppe Ponzio, 31, 20133 Milan, ItalyThis research paper examines threshold spaces in traditional housing within historic Indian cities, emphasizing how these transitional areas are shaped by cultural, social, and environmental influences. It underscores that thresholds function beyond mere physical divisions between interior and exterior; they are intricate spatial elements that engage the senses and perception. Key findings include the following: (a) Historical evolution: traditional dwellings display layers of history, shaped by cultural, economic, and climatic factors. (b) Character and morphology: this paper explores the qualities and structures of threshold spaces, analyzing features such as transparency, material choice, hierarchy, and enclosure. (c) Social significance: thresholds play essential roles, supporting a variety of activities, providing shelter, defining boundaries, enhancing community interaction and security, and contributing to residents’ identities. (d) Design implications: insights from this study suggest that a deeper understanding of these spaces can enhance design strategies for transitional areas in housing, highlighting their functional and socio-cultural value. The study adopts a structured comparative analysis of six case studies, evaluated at four scales—township, neighborhood, dwelling, and threshold—focusing on spatial parameters including design, function, definition, structure, and sequence. Overall, this paper highlights the critical role of threshold spaces in architecture and urban design, demonstrating their potential to enhance social interaction, define spatial relationships, and reflect cultural significance in contemporary design practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/7/12/309threshold spacestraditional Indian dwellingsin-between spacearchitectural elements
spellingShingle Julia Nerantzia Tzortzi
Ishita Saxena
Threshold Spaces: The Transitional Spaces Between Outside and Inside in Traditional Indian Dwellings
Heritage
threshold spaces
traditional Indian dwellings
in-between space
architectural elements
title Threshold Spaces: The Transitional Spaces Between Outside and Inside in Traditional Indian Dwellings
title_full Threshold Spaces: The Transitional Spaces Between Outside and Inside in Traditional Indian Dwellings
title_fullStr Threshold Spaces: The Transitional Spaces Between Outside and Inside in Traditional Indian Dwellings
title_full_unstemmed Threshold Spaces: The Transitional Spaces Between Outside and Inside in Traditional Indian Dwellings
title_short Threshold Spaces: The Transitional Spaces Between Outside and Inside in Traditional Indian Dwellings
title_sort threshold spaces the transitional spaces between outside and inside in traditional indian dwellings
topic threshold spaces
traditional Indian dwellings
in-between space
architectural elements
url https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/7/12/309
work_keys_str_mv AT julianerantziatzortzi thresholdspacesthetransitionalspacesbetweenoutsideandinsideintraditionalindiandwellings
AT ishitasaxena thresholdspacesthetransitionalspacesbetweenoutsideandinsideintraditionalindiandwellings