Space is traditionally understood as the void defined by the relationship between its boundaries—floor, ceiling, and walls. Historically, these architectural elements emerged from humanity’s primal need for shelter. Early dwellings, such as caves, had natural walls and ceilings, offering protection and defining a basic sense of “inside” versus “outside”. With the advent of constructed spaces, floors became critical to delineating horizontal boundaries, while walls and ceilings enabled vertical enclosures, fostering complex human activities and social interactions.

Philosophically, space transcends its physical limits. Aristotle’s concept of “place” (topos) suggests that space is not an independent entity but the physical boundaries that contain objects. Modern philosophy, like Immanuel Kant’s view, posits space as a condition of perception, a framework through which we understand reality. Contemporary thinkers, such as Gaston Bachelard in The Poetics of Space, explore how architectural elements shape human experience and memory, emphasizing that space acquires meaning only through its interaction with those who inhabit it.

Scientifically, these elements frame space, but they do not define it inherently. Space also includes the interplay of light, sound, and even psychological dimensions. Thus, the floor, ceiling, and walls are starting points—a canvas for the human mind to project meaning, order, and creativity.