299more than the absence of light, but also the constitution of an
independent spatial zone, space shadows too generate their
own spatial spheres. Just as the inherent and cast shadows
falling onto walls and floor surfaces indicate the concave de-
limitations of a spatial volume, the facade of a building casts –
figuratively speaking – a space shadow onto the surface of the
ground lying before it. The effect is that of a > force field in
the area of influence of the wall that casts the space shadow.
The shaping of architectural spaces begins with the combined
effect of two planes that form an > angle; accordingly, wall
and floor together enclose a concave angle, and hence a spa-
tial volume. An approximate notion of the extension of this
zone is provided by a figure that shows the vertical outer wall
of a building folding out and downward onto the surface of
the ground before it. Delimited by this zone of influence that
coincides with a shadow, despite the indistinctness of its con-
tours, is a volume into which one can become immersed, can
remain as though in a shadow. The influence of building and
facade on this volume has the character of a kind of radiance.
Just as the wall of a house that is warmed by the sunlight
during the daytime continues to radiate warmth into its sur-
roundings in the evening, the facade of a building transmits
something of a building’s space-shaping force to its immedi-
ate surroundings. When a space shadow lies not in darkness,
but is illuminated by sunlight, then, the entire spatial volume
is warmed by the heat energy of the wall. In addition to tem-
perature sensitivity, the acoustics of such zones of influence
are often shaded by various types of sound absorption or re-
flection.
Depending upon one’s orientation and position with-
in this zone, the wall provides rear cover or leads towards
confrontation; it offers both virtual and real types of sup-
port, proximity, stability or protection. As foil and back-
ground, the wall becomes a projection surface for goings on,
for people within this front area, the space shadow becomes
a > scene. The concavity of the space shadow is reinforced