theory of architecture ii - unit-1

7/25/2019 Theory of Architecture II - Unit-1

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Expressing, Symbolism andCommunication

Ar. Mohamed Ashraf

Asso. Prof., MSAJAA


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Theory ofArchitectureMeaning !nderstanding "t is a T#E$%"T"CA& A'( SC"E'T")"C

C%"T"C"SM and*or a P#+&$S$P#"CA&EP&A'AT"$' to issues related to

A%C#"TECT!%E (ES"-'

A%C#"TECT!%E T#E$%+ is useful toJ!(-E, C%"T"C"SE and S$!'(&+ ASSESS

the (ES"-' P%$CESS

Architecture articulates "'TE'T


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Theory ofArchitecture/Meaning !nderstanding Comprise all design acti0ity, from the

MAC%$ &E1E& 2urban design, landscapearchitecture3 to the M"C%$ &E1E&

2construction detail, furniture3.

"t is the process and product of planning,designing and constructing )$%M, SPACE

and AM4"E'CE that re5ect )!'CT"$'A&,TEC#'"CA&, S$C"A&, E'1"%$'ME'TA&, AEST#ET"C C$'S"(E%AT"$'S.


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Theory ofArchitecture/Meaning !nderstanding "t re6uires the C%EAT"1E MA'"P!&AT"$'

and C$$%("'AT"$' of material,technology, light and shado7.

Architecture also encompasses theP%A-MAT"Caspects of reali8ing buildingsand structures including scheduling, cost

estimating and constructionadministration.


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(e9nition of architecture

1.S. Pramar de9nes architecture as :Thecreation of !T"&"TA%"A' SPACES 7ith thecomponent of AEST#ET"CS achie0ed bymeans ofTEC#'$&$-+.

(.;.Ching de9nes architecture as :Thearchitecture of space ,structure, enclosure

through mo0ement in time


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Space ,structure, enclosure < organisationpattern, relationships, hierarchy, frontal imageand spatial de9nition, 6ualities of shape, colour,texture, scale, proportion, 6ualities of surfaces,

edges and openings. Mo0ement in space and time< approach and

entry ,path con9guration, and access ,se6uencesof spaces.

Technology


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Simon !n7in de9nes architecture as :aP%ACT"CA&, P$ET"C and P#"&$S$P#"CA&art by 7hich 7e organi8e and gi0e form tospace. "t is the medium by 7hich 7ema=e sense of our 7orld SPAT"A&&+ andP#+S"CA&&+>.


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Expressi0e%ole/ 'icolas &e Camus de M?8i@res de9ned

the role of architecture as A &A'-!A-EEP%ESS"1E $) "TS (EST"'AT"$' A'(P!%P$SE.

The aim of architecture 7as accordinglyto communicate the character andsocial status of his clients, but he

also belie0ed that buildings couldevoke human sensation respondingto the mind and move the soul.

"t is claimed that the essence of


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Expression in architecture/

Expression in ARCHITECTUREis thecommunication of B!A&"T+and MEA'"'-.

"t implies a clear and authentic displayingof the C#A%ACTE%or PE%S$'A&"T+of anA%C#"TECT.

The functions and the techni6ues ofbuilding are interpreted and transformedby EP%ESS"$'into A%T,

2As sounds are made into music and 7ords into

literature3


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The nature of expression 0aries 7ith thecultural character of dierent places times, forming distinct modes or languagesof expression that are called ST+&ES.

ST+&E communicates the outloo= of aculture and the concepts of there architects.

The boundaries of a style may be 'AT"$'A&A'( -E$-%AP#"CA& 2e.g.,Japanese,Mayan3 or %E&"-"$!S 2e.g.,"slamic3 and

"'TE&&ECT!A& 2e.g.,%enaissance3,


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distinct linguistic, racial, and national units,and dierent expressions 7ithin each ofthese boundaries are produced by theparticular style of regions, to7ns, groups,

architects, or craftsmen.

The components of expression, 7hichcommunicate the particular 0alues of style,are C$'TE'T )$%M.

Since content can be communicated only

through form, the t7o are organicallyunited.


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Symbolism in architecture/

Society re6uires that A%C#"TECT!%E notonly communicate the aspirations of itsinstitutions but also ful9ll their practicalneeds.

Architectural forms become the 0ehicles ofcontent D in plan, ele0ation, and decorationDthey are S+M4$&"C.

The architectural plan, 7hen usedsymbolically, communicates through its

S#APE.

Symbolism is in the eye of the beholder.

The same symbol or metaphor may havedifferent meanings for different eyes.


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Symbolism in architecture/ )rom prehistoric times

and in many cultures,the C"%C&E, 7ith itssuggestion of the planetsand other manifestations

of nature, gained asymbolic, mysticalsigni9cance and 7asused in the plans of

houses, tombs, andreligious structures.

4y slo7 processes it came to be employedfor memorial and shrines and for hero cults

in both the East and the est.


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hen building techni6ues permitted, itssymbolism often merged 7ith that of thedome.

"n #indu temples, the s6uare 2and the crossplans de0eloped from it3 expressed celestialharmony.

The Central


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P&A' S+M4$&"SM remained almostexclusi0ely in the sphere of religion afteranti6uity, and its traditions graduallydisappeared in the course of the FGth

century.

The modern plan is determined by problemsof form 2space


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Symbolism in architecture/ "n ele0ation the most

consistent symbolic formsha0e beenthe (omethe To7er

the Stair7aythe Portal andthe Colonnade

(omes imply themeanings of the circle andmore,

since a dome is a


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Symbolism in architecture/ &ong before, masonry

domes could be built, thehemisphere 7asassociated 7ith thehea0ens as a :cosmic

canopy,> and throughouthistory domes ha0e beendecorated 7ith stars andastrological symbols.

"n ancient %ome andamong Christians and"ndian 4uddhists, the

dome came to mean

S b li i hit t


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Symbolism in architecture/ (uring the %enaissance it spread

from religious structures to palaces

and go0ernment buildings, retainingsome of its implications of po7er. The Chinese pagoda 2traditional

part of Chinese architecture, its

construction considered auspicious3extends central


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The stair7ay, employed in the pastto gi0e :monumentality> to

important buildings, fre6uentlybecame more expressi0e thancon0enient, especially in 4aro6uepalaces.


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The reasons for theconstruction of somany to7ers are notclear. $ne

hypothesis is thatthe richest familiesused them foroensi0e*defensi0e

purposes.


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Symbolism in architecture/ Portals, from the time of ancient Egyptian

temple pylons 2 large gate in front of temple

ha0ing paintings of gods3 and 4abylonian citygates 2ha0ing animal pictures on faHade3,became monuments in themsel0es, used tocommunicate a heightened signi9cance to

7hat lay behind them. Since the de0elopment of the classical -ree=

temple, the colonnade on the exterior ofbuildings has borne similar implications.


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Symbolism in architecture/ Such symbols ha0e become archaic in modern

culture and appear as a sign of resistance to

ne7 forms.

This resistance is especially evident in the popular

symbolism of domestic architecture.

HOME is often expressed by cottage-like roofs

shutters trellises mullioned !indo!s grilles etc.

S b li i hit t


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Symbolism in architecture/ (ecoration, the most easily

recogni8ed medium of

content, communicatesmeaning either througharchitectural elements orthrough the 9gural arts

2sculpture, painting, mosaic,stained glass, etc.3.

The architectural elementsused decorati0ely, such asthe classical orders, usuallyoriginate in techni6ue and in

time lose their structuralsi ni9cance to become



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Symbolism in architecture/ Similarly, the ne7 0ocabulary of -othic

architecture, de0eloped 7ith ne7 building

techni6ues 2the pointed arch, the 5yingbuttress, etc.3, became in later periods asource for religious and romantic symbolism.

The Art 'ou0eau of the turn of the Ith

century, a system of ornament based on 5oraland other organic forms, sur0i0ed for only t7odecades, perhaps because its symbols 7ereneither dra7n from a tradition nor deri0ed froma structural system.


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A%T '$!1EA!

A'T$'"$-A!("KS $%;S



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Symbolism in architecture/The sculptures of the #indu temple 2gods,human 9gures3, the mosaics of the 4y8antinechurch 2sho7s 7ealth3, and the stuccoes 2 limeL sand L 7ater applied 7et and then hardens,plaster used inside, stucco used outside3 ofMoorish palaces 27est part of north Africa3 are

not ornamental applications they determinethe form of the building itself.

The 0irtual absence of traditional symbols in

modern architecture is e0idence of the failure ofthese symbols to express the cultural patternsof the Ith century.



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Symbolism in architecture/"n these times, architecture, li=e

painting

sculpture andother artshas tended to be abstract, to emphasi8e6ualities of form rather than the communication

of familiar ideas through symbols.

Symbolism in FGth century


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Symbolism in FGthcentury Symbolism came to the force in late FGth

century, 7ith its roots in arts and literature.

&argely a reaction against naturalism 2naturallybuilt shelter3 and realism 2present needs3 ,themo0ement 7as largely in fa0our of spirituality,the imagination and dreams.

Almost e0erything be it a building, a painting,a mo0ie or a tale < has its roots in some form ofsymbolism or, con0ersely, resorts to symbolismfor expressing itself.

Symbolism in FGth century


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Symbolism in FGthcentury They pro0ide not only structure and form, but

the textcontext andmeaning to

social and cultural life.

)ront 2Male3 Section of #ouseC#ETT"'A( #$!S"'-


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)ront 2Male3 Section of #ouseF.1eranda.

Central of #ouseI. Hal vitu or vitu:9rst courtyard

literally, Nhall house.NO. Tontu:columns.. Melpati, tinnai:a raised platformon 7hich people sit.Q. Valavu:aisle or corridorsurrounding central courtyard.

R. Ull arai: pulli'sinner roomforpujaand storage of do7ryitems.. Veli arai: pulli'souter room.

4ac= 2)emale3 Section of #ouse

. Kattu:second courtyard,7omenUs courtyard 7here grainsare dried, foods are prepared.G. Samayal arai:=itchen.F. Kutchin:a small room for7omen coming


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Symbolism in FGthcentury Architecture also constitutes po7erful

expressi0e and symbolic 0ehicles in its o7n

right ,7ith monumental buildings 2gate7ay of"ndia3 being more note7orthy in their stylethan in their functional pro0ision.

#o7e0er, 7e tend to connect it mainly tohistorical and religious structures as theimagery appears to be highly explicit andprofound in them.

Symbolism exempli9ed in monuments,mos6ues, churches < spiritual and historicstructures.

Sense of space/


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Sense of space/

The term sense of space has been de9nedand utili8ed in dierent 7ays by dierent

people. "t is often used in relation to characteristics

that ma=e a place special or uni6ue, as 7ellas to those that foster a sense of authentic

human attachment and belonging.#istory of symbolism/ Symbolism in FGthcentury 7as characteri8ed

as spiritual or mystical in nature ,7hich

represented the inner life of people. #ence , symbolism is applied use of any

iconic representations 2pyramid po7erfulform, has highest form of energy, sphere

completeness3 7hich carry particular


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&$T!S TEMP&E, (E"

MAT%" MA'("%, A!%$1"&&E


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Symbolism of pyramid*

triangular form throughcha=ras.

%eligious symbolism/


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%eligious symbolism/

%eligious architecture is a record of the 7aypeople express their faith.

%eligious symbolism uses symbols, includingarches types, art7or=, texts, rituals and othersigns.Symbols and #indu temple/

Cultures ha0e often associated geometricshapes 7ith religion.

"n "ndia ,the relationbet7een symbols and

temple architecture isclearly spelt out by 0astushartra.

The 0arious parts of a

temple are related to


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4#!(("ST ST!PA

S+M4$&S


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SQUARE AN!AASTU

#ence s6uare 7asused in all temple

plans.

Examples/


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Examples/

A pentagram is a 90e

theory of architecture ii - unit-1

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