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viewing conditions. This depends upon whether we only want
to see out, or instead wish to be seen from the outside; one
may even prefer to sit at a window without really looking
through it. Since we are attracted by the light and the view,
we seek out a direct connection to the window. In order to
unite it seamlessly with seating, we require a fixed, perma-
nent window seat, possibly in a deep niche as an independent
window space. On the ground floor as well, a raised window
seat with elevated railing permits views towards the outside
without risking exposure. A bay window, or a > gallery as
‘display case’ situated in front, also provides side views along
the street. Like the corner window, it offers the advantage of
admitting light from more than one side; in a spatial > inver-
sion, one is inside and yet surrounded by light and external
space.- We experience the act of opening and closing differ-
ently depending upon how the window is configured, and
how it operates. A double-leaved window that opens out-
ward requires us to open our arms and spread them out
towards the external space in a receptive gesture. Such a win-
dow closes like an article of clothing that buttons in the front.
If it opens towards the inside, the gesture of opening figu-
ratively speaking involves drawing the outer world towards
oneself along with the leaves of the window. As a rule, the
casements then project at an angle into the room, forming
a kind of triptych whose middle part is formed by the view
towards the outside, supplemented by the lateral elements,
each of which mirrors portions of the outer world. Dur-
ing the act of closure, this gesture is reversed, as wind and
weather are pushed away towards the outside. Large single-
leaf casements, conversely, project so far into the room that
they divide it and interfere with movement through space.
Provided that the mechanism to be operated is simple,
we develop a relationship of familiarity with the act of open-
ing and closure. With complicated mechanisms, on the other
hand, we readily become slaves of the apparatus, and lose our