What are the best examples of liminal spaces?

Liminal spaces are the transitional areas between two distinct places or states that can evoke a feeling of unease, mystery, or nostalgia. These spaces are often overlooked and ignored in our daily lives, but they hold a certain fascination for many people. The term “liminal” comes from the Latin word "limen" which means threshold, and these spaces serve as a threshold between the familiar and the unknown.

One of the best examples of liminal spaces is train stations. Train stations are busy hubs where people pass through coming and going to different destinations. They are transitional places where people experience a sense of departure and arrival, leaving behind their own world and entering into someone else's. The constant movement of people, the sound of trains arriving and departing, the announcements over the speaker system, all contribute to a feeling of being suspended in time. A sense of anticipation and excitement lingers in these spaces as people wait for their next journey to begin.

Another example is airports. Similar to train stations, airports also have a distinct liminal quality. People from different cultures and backgrounds come together in this space with different purposes; some are arriving home while others are embarking on new adventures. The sterile atmosphere with its long corridors, escalators, check-in desks, security checkpoints creates an otherworldly feeling for travelers.

Abandoned buildings and places like old hospitals or amusement parks are also considered liminal spaces. These places were once thriving with life but now exist in a state of decay and emptiness. They evoke feelings of nostalgia for what once was while also hinting at secrets and mysteries waiting to be uncovered.

Cemeteries can also be seen as liminal spaces as they mark the transition between life and death. They act as physical thresholds for both the living and the dead. Cemeteries often have an eerie atmosphere with gravestones marking individual thresholds and pathways leading to the unknown.

Museums are another example of liminal spaces. The curated collections and exhibits transport visitors to different times and places, blurring the boundaries between reality and imagination. In a similar way, theaters and concert halls also act as transitional spaces where audiences are immersed in a performance, temporarily leaving behind their own reality.

Liminal spaces can be found all around us, from mundane places like train stations to more unconventional places like abandoned buildings. These spaces challenge our perception of reality and invite us to explore the boundaries between known and unknown, past and present, life and death. They hold a certain allure that captures our imagination and leaves us questioning our place in the world.