The Space Between: A Christian Engagement with the Built Environment

Jacobsen (Sidewalks in the Kingdom) offers a fascinating and thorough examination of the development and role of spatial relationships within a human-built environment and how it affects the human situation. The seminal issue he explores is what he calls “enacted space”: “We’ve already noted that the most significant aspect of the built environment is found in the space between buildings. However, that space becomes interesting only when it is activated by people using it.” This is not another tome about “going green” but a serious, meticulous examination of the physical apparatus, animated by human players, that makes cultures thrive, communities effervesce, and people feel as if they belong somewhere. It is a formidable read that demands resolve of the reader. But its worth justifies its heft. It is an excellent choice for the college classroom and students studying the social sciences. (Aug.)