The [Socio-Cultural] Production of Space. Doorstep: Exploring Threshold in Non-Western Contexts

The ‘doorstep’ is a threshold space with a purpose, where meaning flows through, transforming mediation volumes into actual places. Distinct spatial characteristics make it a ‘third’ space, which embraces the tension between opposites (inside/outside and public/private). It unfolds socio-cultural possibilities of collective living, constructing a unique experience as one crosses, pauses, or uses it. It is a space that is intermediate and indeterminate (or ambiguous) but possesses specific social constructs and particular cultural meanings. The research on cross-cultural meanings and significance of doorstep is intriguing due to its depth and multifarious complexity, illustrating the rich diversity of human culture and traditions. In Western contexts, the doorstep primarily implies a boundary between the private inside and the public outside, marking the transition from the individual domain (home) to the collective realm of the street. Whereas, in non-Western contexts, the doorstep carries additional cultural significance - serving as a gathering place for collective engagement, as a space for cultural practices such as storytelling or communal meals, or where rituals and ceremonies are performed to protect the home from negative influences, or which simply signifies the social status of the residents. The article provides insights into the varied perceptions, uses, cultural significance, and linguistic nuances associated with threshold space (doorstep) in two non-Western but dissimilar contexts. The socio-cultural manifestation of the doorstep in Lahore, the tharra enriches the urban fabric as mediating spaces, extending dwellings onto the streets. Tharra(s) serve as dynamic hubs for social interactions and cultural practices, daytime activities for women, and evening gatherings for men – a modest element that personifies various meanings and performs several functions – epitomising accessibility and inclusivity of the collective realm. Meanwhile, the menkan in Chinese culture goes beyond its practical function, symbolising the significance of solitude and traditional Chinese culture’s hierarchical order. It symbolises wealth and power and serves as a silent code of conduct, emphasising politeness, whereas it is not utilised as a space for sitting or engaging in activities, as it is believed to bring about bad fortune. Regional variations in the doorstep’s size, materials, and colours reflect economic and socio-cultural differences.