Twenty-Six Design Concepts, Illustrated

solid + void One of the most important and impactful decisions an architect must make is what registers a space as a solid, and what registers it as a void. Although seemingly straightforward, manipulating the balance of these two concepts in an architectural form can fundamentally redefine a person's perception of and experience in a space. While it is tempting to think of void as simply the absence of solid mass, redefining this understanding is critical to successful design. Alternatively, architects often treat the incorporation of void as a deliberate decision: just as the incorporation of solid. This is the guiding principle behind art such as Rachel Whiteread's; in Untitled (Domestic), she uses poured concrete to create a solid form occupying the void created by a staircase, prompting a reflective reinterpretation of the implicit weight carried by the apparent emptiness.