Architecture is the art of how to waste space.

Host: The room was quiet, the gentle glow from the lamp casting long shadows across the space. Outside, the world had settled into the stillness of night, and the air was filled with a calm, peaceful rhythm. Jeeny sat at the table, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her cup, her expression thoughtful. Jack, standing near the window, gazed out at the darkened world, lost in his own reflections. There was a quiet anticipation between them, as if the conversation was about to unfold into something deeper.

Jeeny: (breaking the silence, her voice soft but filled with curiosity) “I came across something by Philip Johnson today that really made me think. He said, ‘Architecture is the art of how to waste space.’ What do you think about that?”

Jack: (pauses, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips) “It’s a bold, almost provocative statement, isn’t it? At first, it sounds like he’s downplaying the value of space in architecture, but I think he’s pointing to something deeper. Architecture isn’t just about filling a space with functionality; it’s about creating something with intention, about how we experience the space, not just how we use it. Sometimes, to make a space beautiful or meaningful, we need to leave room for emptiness, for space that isn’t filled with purpose but that allows the environment to breathe.”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly) “Exactly. When you think about it, some of the most powerful architectural designs aren’t just about the walls, the materials, or the functionality—they’re about how the space makes you feel. Sometimes, less is more. In fact, creating a sense of emptiness or negative space can be just as impactful as filling the space with objects or purpose. It’s about creating room for movement, for the way light and air interact with the environment.”

Host: The stillness in the room deepened, as the conversation began to settle into something more profound. Jack turned slightly toward Jeeny, his expression thoughtful, considering the deeper layers of Johnson’s quote. Outside, the world had grown silent, but inside, their discussion had shifted to a more philosophical place—about the balance between functionality and aesthetics in architecture.

Jack: (his voice quieter now, more reflective) “It’s interesting, though, because space isn’t just about physical presence. It’s also about absence—how we perceive what’s not there. Maybe Johnson is saying that architecture, like art, is about creating meaning in the absence of meaning. When you give space room to breathe, it forces us to interact with it, to find new ways of thinking about how we occupy that space. It's not wasted—it’s just left open for interpretation, for experience.”

Jeeny: (softly) “Yes. And that’s what makes architecture so much more than just about building structures—it’s about creating a feeling, a mood. The best buildings often make us feel something beyond just functionality. They make us pause, make us notice the way light plays across a wall, or how a room feels empty yet full at the same time. Architecture, in that sense, is about how we experience space, not just how we use it.”

Jack: (nodding slowly) “Exactly. It’s about the presence that emptiness can create. We often think that space must be filled, that every inch should be used for something practical, but by leaving room for openness, for nothingness, architecture allows us to reflect, to think, to experience something beyond the immediate.”

Jeeny: (smiling gently) “Yes. It’s the beauty of balance. In creating the empty, we allow space for creativity, for freedom. Architecture isn’t just about design; it’s about creating a framework for the human experience. It’s the art of inviting people into a space, then giving them the room to interpret it, to live in it, without being overwhelmed by it.”

Host: The quiet in the room grew deeper now, as if the conversation had reached a new level of understanding about the true nature of architecture. Jeeny and Jack had uncovered a simple yet profound truth—that sometimes, in design, emptiness is as powerful as fullness, and space is not just about practicality but about creating experiences and emotions. Architecture, at its best, isn’t just about filling a space—it’s about allowing the space to be experienced in a way that transcends its physicality.

Jack: (smiling softly, his voice more assured) “I guess it’s a reminder that in architecture—and in life—it’s not always about how much we fill or do. Sometimes, it’s about the space we leave, the room we create for interpretation and reflection.”

Jeeny: (nodding warmly) “Exactly. It’s about finding beauty in both the filled and the empty, the planned and the unplanned. That’s where the true artistry lies.”

Host: The world outside had quieted to a peaceful stillness, but inside, the room was filled with understanding. Jeeny and Jack had uncovered the truth that space—in architecture and in life—isn’t simply about what we put into it. It’s about what we leave open, what we allow to breathe, and how we experience it. The most powerful creations are those that create room for us to reflect, interpret, and live fully within them.