Figure 2-9
Varying heights of overhead planes create different feelings of enclosure. Perception of outdoor space is also influenced by variations in weather (sun, clouds, fog, rain, snow)
and light. The walls separating one room from another are typically solid and fixed in place with doors or other openings being the only spatial connection between them. Outdoor spaces change more dramatically over a period of time in comparison to their interior counterparts. Growth and seasonal variations have a tremendous influence on the space-defining abilities of plant materials. All the possible combinations of factors make the perception of outdoor space highly variable. Overhead planes may be completely open where maximum skylight is desired or completely solid where little or no light is needed. In contrast, an outdoor space may be quite open to provide an expansive feeling, outward-oriented views in many directions, and exposure to climatic elements such as sun and wind (Figure 2-11). In the outdoor environment, the base, vertical, and overhead planes function together to create a variety of spaces with different uses and feelings. Plant materials, for example, don’t usually provide the sharp, clear edge that the walls inside a house do unless they are pruned to form precise hedges. Many plants have a fairly open character and are amorphous in shape, thus allowing views to extend to spaces and objects beyond. Outdoor spaces often tend to be defined more by implication than by obvious enclosures (Figure 2-12). Figure 2-11 j
Figure 2-12
Unlike indoor spaces, outdoor spaces tend to be more open and less defined. An outdoor space may seem very appealing on a warm, sunny day yet uninviting and dismal on another day. In some locations of the country, a space defined essentially by plant materials may seem very enclosed during the summer but quite open during the winter when leaves drop off. in both indoor and outdoor spaces, but there are differences that should be recognized and appreciated as well. The second function of the overhead plane is to influence the perceived scale of a space. The first is to influence the amount and quality of skylight (including sunlight) that enters into a space (Figure 2—7). For instance, an outdoor space may be almost completely enclosed to create a rather intimate and inward sensation (Figure 2-10). In addition, the elements that define outdoor space are often arranged in an informal manner, unlike the typical straight walls in a house. By comparison, the edges of outdoor spaces are not as rigidly defined. Another characteristic of interior space is that its sense of enclosure and light does not vary much over a period of time, especially if windows are small or lacking. People also live, work, and play
Figure 2-7
Overhead planes affect the amount of natural light entering a space. Such a space tends to have a strong sense of privacy and separation from other spaces. Consequently, it is sometimes difficult to perceive where one outdoor space ends and another begins. Both are volumes defined by the base plane, vertical planes, and overhead plane.
