doorswhere

Doorswhere is a term used in speculative fiction and design discourse to describe a hypothetical phenomenon in which doorways function as dynamic conduits to alternate locations, states, or dimensions rather than fixed passages.

The term blends "door" with "where" to emphasize destination as a variable property of the passage rather than an inherent attribute of the door itself. There is no formal standard definition, and usage varies by author or designer; it is typically treated as a concept or metaphor rather than a proven technology.

In practical and narrative contexts, doorswhere can refer to physical portals that change destination based on context, user identity, time, or probabilistic rules. In digital media and interactive installations, doorswhere may describe interface metaphors in which a "door" button reveals different content paths depending on user history or environmental data. The idea is to decouple a doorway from a single fixed endpoint in order to expand spatial or experiential possibilities.

Applications include speculative architecture, art installations, video games, and worldbuilding. Designers use doorswhere to explore themes of choice, memory, and contingency, while storytellers employ it to enable non-linear narratives or multiversal travel without physically multiplying spaces.

See also: portal, doorway, wormhole, teleportation, multiverse theory, gate, threshold.