Space is crucial to human existence, and a large part of this spatial environment is designed by people. Human life always takes place in spaces, be it in a landscape, a city, a house or a room. People almost take it for granted that their built and natural spatial environment is permanent, even though earthquakes or wars can suddenly destroy spaces. People use their senses to perceive spaces directly, individually and always in new ways. People like or dislike walking, resting, dreaming or working in certain spaces. A forest or a street can seem inviting in the morning and threatening at night. Within seconds, a spatial situation is perceived as narrow or wide, safe or threatening, inviting or repulsive and influences behavior accordingly. On a hike, a place where the sun is shining and the wind is not too strong but sufficiently cool, where there is a beautiful view and the sounds from the surroundings are absorbed so well that they do not disturb the desired peace and quiet is chosen for a rest. It is difficult to describe the atmosphere of such a place in detail because several aspects simultaneously determine the overall impression and are not consciously perceived and analyzed individually.

People design their spatial environment to protect themselves from the forces of nature and to express their different ways of behaving, working and living, needs and ideas. A large part of the spatial environment is externally determined and predetermined, often according to the ideas and private interests of others, natural conditions or the will of a political majority. Built spaces can stimulate the senses and the mind through their form, materiality, light or colors, offer protection or security through their scale and trigger surprise, amazement, joy or well-being with their design. The invention of a spatial container always enables the invention of its use. Spatial design can be described as the built realization of the cultural-ideological, site-specific, economic, political, social or usage-related parameters that determine human existence. These parameters are subject to constant change and constantly reshape the built spaces. Both the requirements and ideas relevant to individuals and those relevant to groups can be recognized in spatial design - sometimes for millennia and sometimes for just a few hours. Spatial design can generally be defined as any form of active appropriation of space, regardless of whether it is a room or a landscape. Space as a sensually and cognitively perceptible relationship between things, bodies or elements of living nature is at the center of the work in the field.