In grade school we learn about negative and positive space, simplistic concepts.

Scottish artist Douglas Gordon certainly sees the point of negative space and did a series where he burnt parts out of portraits.

How pretty is this strictly blank window?

This dead chic building is on the Embankment in London, and you can imagine without the blank windows it would look like a council flat.

The Georgians, being sticklers for symmetry, used the blank window frequently and to great effect.

Another chic use of the blank in this hotel in France. These blank roundels are repeated along the walls under a barrel vaulted ceiling.

Look familiar? The Mount was home to Edith Warton and many of these windows are false. I used the idea at my Canadian cottage to great effect to break up a long imposing wall. We put a false wall with black paper behind the window and it works perfectly.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if more developers took a cue from Alberti and made something visually alluring out of their blank walls!