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hand, the wall is only a two-dimensional image plane upon
which we perceive light and shadow or various types of in-
formation; and as spatial containers, walls appear to be flat
elements that lack depth. On the other hand, however, they
form three-dimensional rooms of various depths. Walls con-
tain and divide rooms, or lead from one to the next; depend-
ing upon the directionality of the gaze and of movement, they
either offer solid resistance or guide us inconspicuously along
our way. At times, they are dissolved into individual elements,
into supports, > columns or pillars. Walls represent physical
counterparts (1); according to their physical constitutions (2);
they also function as spatial delimitations (3); and serve in
manifold ways to shape space (4).- While the > ground is the field of action for our move-
ments, vertical walls are an impassable vis-à-vis for the roam-
ing > gaze, the image plane upon which, provided it is empty,
our fantasy may cause imaginary figures to appear. The wall
confronts us with the counterpart to our own bodies; with-
in it, spatial limitations are objectified. We seldom actually
touch walls; nonetheless, the projection of our bodily zones
corresponds to a virtual subdivision of the wall into an area
of vision at eye level, an area for kicking near the legs, and an
area of the grasp beginning at waist level and extending above
the head. Accordingly, wall coverings are applied, storage
units and shelves installed, and pictures hung. As a result, the
wall becomes an information service and storage zone, and
consequently becomes so obstructed and obscured that one
sees precious little of it. When it is kept free of obstructions,
on the other hand, it can serve as a projection surface for the
play of light and shadow. But bare walls are also a stimu-
lus to fantasy, eliciting a desire to decorate them. Through
murals, ornamentation or incrustation, they become viewing
and exhibition surfaces. As > facades, they are both informa-
tion panels that convey or withhold statements about a build-
ing’s interior and planar compositions that are subject to the
laws of proportion and weight balance; through horizontal