Corridors—transitional, purely functional spaces—seem a ubiquitous architectural feature in offices, subway systems and many homes. This, however, was not always the case. The word derives from the Spanish corredor (runner), messengers in 14th-century Spain for whom nobles built passageways that would expedite their journeys. Elsewhere in Europe, in palaces like Versailles or large public buildings, rooms were not connected to or separated from each other with corridors. Rather, they were designed as enfilades—suites in which one room led directly into another. This story is from Kinfolk Issue Twenty-Nine Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 48 Cult Rooms After “completing” philosophy, Ludwig Wittgenstein tried—and failed—at architecture. Arts & Culture Issue 47 Draw the Line A short history of linear architecture. Arts & Culture Issue 47 Peer Review Hadani Ditmars on the disappearing legacy of Rifat Chadirji, Iraq’s most influential architect. Arts & Culture Issue 47 CULT ROOMS In north Lebanon, two architects are rebuilding a corner of Oscar Niemeyer’s international fair. Arts & Culture Issue 43 Stone Cold A history of spite architecture. Arts & Culture Issue 40 Olalekan Jeyifous On fantastical architecture and sci-fi Brooklyn.
Arts & Culture Issue 48 Cult Rooms After “completing” philosophy, Ludwig Wittgenstein tried—and failed—at architecture.
Arts & Culture Issue 47 Peer Review Hadani Ditmars on the disappearing legacy of Rifat Chadirji, Iraq’s most influential architect.
Arts & Culture Issue 47 CULT ROOMS In north Lebanon, two architects are rebuilding a corner of Oscar Niemeyer’s international fair.
