Thick Walls: Visible Depth in Window Openings

An interior space with walls 50 centimeters thick. The thickness is visible at every opening: window openings form deep recesses, with inner walls continuous, same color, and rounded edges as the main wall, and window sills wide enough to sit on and place a few ceramic pots; door openings also have noticeable depth, passing through them feels like passing through a short passage. Due to the thick walls, the inner walls of the window openings create strong contrasts of light and shadow in sunlight—the illuminated side is dazzlingly white, the shaded side sinks into shadow, with a soft gradient between them. The walls are hand-troweled white lime plaster, with an undulating surface. The interior is thus cool and dim, contrasting with the strong light outside. Avoid: using thin walls that make openings lose depth, making the edges of window openings sharp angles, adding window casings and trim, making the interior as bright as the exterior.

Translated from Chinese by AI.

一個牆體厚達五十公分的室內空間。厚度在每一個開口處被看見:窗洞形成一個深深的凹室,內壁與牆面連續、同色、圓角收邊,窗台寬到可以坐人並放上幾只陶罐;門洞同樣有明顯的深度,穿過時像穿過一段短短的通道。因為牆厚,窗洞的內壁在陽光下形成強烈的明暗——受光的一側白得刺眼、背光的一側沉入陰影,兩者之間是柔和的漸層。牆面是手工抹製的白色石灰塗料,表面有起伏。室內因此涼爽而昏暗,與窗外的強光形成對比。避免:使用薄牆讓開口失去深度、把窗洞的邊緣做成銳角、加入窗套線板與收邊條、讓室內與室外一樣明亮。