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Virginia Tech

Inhabiting the Skin

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Appreciation of the natural light, air, and scenery outside the built interior environment spurs the architect's desire to "bring the outside in". (Lately, floor-to-ceiling glazing is the most popular way of doing this.) Appreciation of what can be found "in the wall" also inspires the architect. Neither inside nor outside, being "in the wall" offers unique sensory experiences. Historically, the thick masonry walls of public buildings provided spaces (such as the arched vestibule of a library) within the walls' openings where people could gather to talk or wait out the rain. Another example of space within walls is the window seat, which is the architect's response to many peoples' desire to curl up inside a window to read a book or to watch what's going on outside. Modern materials and technologies have allowed us to build buildings taller and lighter than ever before but they also have led us to cease creating those special spaces, neither inside nor outside, that protect people from the elements without entirely cutting them off from them. It is this third space, neither inside nor outside, that I seek to reclaim in this thesis project. I hope to return to people space of fresh air, indirect, natural light, sense of protection, and openness; a place where stories are traded, secrets are whispered, and stars are wished on. With this project, I seek to develop a third space.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Architecture
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Architecture
Department dc:contributor.department
Architecture
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2006

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • McCaffrey, Clare Alexis
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Piedmont-Palladino, Susan C.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Emmons, Paul F.
  • Feuerstein, Marcia F.

Subjects

dc:subject × 8

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-09282006-195120
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/35220

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

McCaffrey, Clare Alexis. Inhabiting the Skin. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/35220