Semiotics in Architecture

Architectural representation and meanings in legislative buildings.

Kapil Kumar Sinha

2010BARC023
Aim and Objective

• Aim
To understand the process of meaning formation in architecture of legislative buildings

• Objective
To study symbolic representation in architecture
To study semiotics of legislative buildings.
Scope and Limitations

• Scope
The scope of study involves the understanding of semiotics of architecture and
literature case studies of legislative buildings particularly the semiotics involved in it.

• Limitations
Study is limited to the semiotic analysis, based on literature available, Detail study of
social, political and cultural aspect are beyond scope.
Background study

Architecture has always been a media for representation of point of view. Since from
history thoughts and ideas are part architectural expression. Architecture is a tool of
transforming abstract concepts into physical reality. Symbolism becomes more
important when it comes to designing of public built forms. Representing people of
state and symbolizing state power is a part of legislative architecture.
Methodology

• Literature study on architectural representation and meaning i.e. semiotics.

• Analyzing meanings and representation in architectural components of legislative
buildings through literature data.
Architectural representation and meaning.
• Introduction
The task of the architect is to create physical environment that is identifiable by members
of society as their own.

Function FORM

FUNCTION
Give Meaning
Form
Express
Function
Architectural representation and meaning.
Meanings in architectural forms depends upon the process of interpretation, which is
shaped by the society.

ELITE

ORDINARY PEOPLE

Chapel, Valleacerón
Semiotics

Semiotics is the science of studying systems of signs within a culture

• Charles Jencks
Any architectural form can be a symbol ,reference, referent
Architecture as Language

In architecture apart from the possible function of the object, various other
meanings are attached with that object, which is interpreted by viewer and to
use them in their own way.
Characterization of Sign and Symbols

Three models

• Charles Jencks Model

• Giovanni K Koening Model
• Bonta’s Model
Charles Jencks Model
Charles Jencks Model
Giovanni K Koening Model

Architecture is a system of “sign vehicles” that promotes certain kinds of behavior.

This approach has its difficulties because it relies on human responses as the criterion by which to
verify an architectural sign.
Bonta’s Model
Meanings of the Architectural Symbols

Denotation
of function

Architectural
Form
Connotation
of idea
Meanings of the Architectural Symbols
Primary Sensation and Secondary Sensation
Le Corbusier and Ozenfant

• Primary Sensation:
Color and Shape
Universal for all men

• Secondary Sensation
based on individual background and culture.
Primary sensation are
supposedly more significant
than secondary ones. But the
meaning
are socially bounded.
Case Study

Manitoba Legislative Building

• Completed in 1920
• Masonic Architecture
• Architect: Frank Worthington Simon
Manitoba Legislative Building,Canada

Thought

Referent
Manitoba Legislative Building, Canada

Lady Manitoba
Manitoba Legislative Building, Canada

Success progress eternal youth

Agriculture, Labor, Science and Art

World War I

Courage, Vigilance, Sacrifice and Loyalty

Grand Staircase Hall(Room of Protection)

Two Bronze Bison

Fourteen Lion Head
Eight Cattle Skull
Head of Medusa
Head of Athena

Grand Staircase Hall(Room of Protection)

Temple of persephone
Manitoba Legislative Building, Canada

• Intended to inform about lives of the people to representative

• Depicts ancient ideology, masonic philosophy
• Symbolism in context

• No Difference between symbol and referent

• Coding of idea though functionally hard to achieve
• Intentional index Bonta’s model of is used.
Case Study

Parliament House, Canberra

• Architects Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp have created a building that is a meeting place for members of parliament
and a symbol of Australia’s democracy. It is a place where decisions that shape the nation are made, a site for
celebration, memorial and sometimes protest, and above all a building for the people.
Parliament House, Canberra

Thought

Symbol
• Hill reserved for people
• Under the unifying element
• Symbolically represent democracy rises from state of thing
 Chambers
Each chambers has a distinctive architectural
style. It can also be seen in the rooftops of
both the chambers are angular and are
finished with the red terracotta tiles. This tile
is reference to the red tiled rooftops of many
Australian homes

Cabinet Room:
• No natural light
• Depicted large ship
• Leanness to represent democracy
The Forecourt
• Design to invite people
• Mosaic pattern symbolize Australia
component
• This space represents the period in country
history before European Settlement

The Great Verandah

• Depicts tradition of verandah in Australian
House
The Foyer
• 48 columns clad in green marble creates
impression of walk through forest.

The Great Hall

• Features various panel from Australian
timbers.
• Known as room of land.
Parliament House, Canberra

• Symbol of national unity and commitment to democratic purpose.

• Form reflects history, cultural diversity
• Symbolism in context

• Difference between symbol and referent

• Message of unity and aspiration which is more profound than writing
• Intentional index Bonta’s model of is used.
Conclusion

• Every form has some meaning but associated meaning are an

essential requirement.
• Both the building have almost same form of expression but different
form of content.
• Interpretation is an action which is developed within society.
• Meaning Formation is a social consensus where the society’s taste
matches meaning associated to the architectural form.
List of review of literature

• ARCHITECTURAL SPACE AND GREIMASSIAN SEMIOTICS, Kristina Juodinytė-Kuznetsov

• ESSAY ON SEMIOTICS AND ARCHITECTURE; "EXPLAINING THE MEANING OF THE SYMBOLS IN
ARCHITECTURAL , Mohammad Ali Sargazi
• FUNCTION AND SIGN: THE SEMIOTICS OF ARCHITECTURE, Umberto Eco
• MASONIC INTERPRETATION OF MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE BUILDING, Frank Albo
• ARCHITECTURE AS LANGUAGE – SEMIOTIC COMPONENTIAL ANALYSIS OF ARCHITECTURE À LA
CHARLES JENCKS, http://stadtinnenarchitektur.de/?p=410
• THE SEMIOTICS OF THE NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE, Indyk, I.