TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING ARCHITECTURAL THEORY: A REVIEW ON

‘READING’ ARCHITECTURE
SAMRIDHI, 2016ARA030
Through the art of reading, the signification of the built form can be brought out.
However, for the art of reading to be consented by all, there should be the existence of
a speech or an architectural mode, which is broadly assumed by all the concerned.
Simply the existence of such language is imaginary, as according to the Ballantyne
(2005), the language of architecture is not constant through all the times, it get
changed along with the time and even may exist merely for certain period of time in
history. Similar to art, architecture is communicative in nature that it is expressing the
generative concept and the underlying purposes of the designer. As suggested by
Psarra (2009), the architectural theory is not entirely around the evolution of forms,
but likewise around the evolution and recurrence of the thought systems with the
converting times. In 1994, Perez-Gomez suggested that the work of architecture is not
only to mean something, but it should also allow the meaning to be present itself in a
way by which it can be read. For architecture to be read or expressed, building should
be approached, confronted or utilized. The experience can never be comprehended by
a visit, rather than the architecture requires experience that can be taken in with the
dense current of time. Echo (1972.1976 and 1986) developed the concept of semiotics
of architecture which appears upon the spaces and the objects acting as signs that can
communicate possible functions on the basis of system of convention called codes. If
there was even some universal architecture language also, we will still not be able to
record the architecture in the same style, as it impinges to our sensations. It depends
upon number of factors including positionality of reader, perception and legibility.
The positionality of the reader reflects on a scale of vocabulary. Whether an architect
or not one can read architecture by reading or previewing experientially but when
positionality get involved, the variation in how they read are bound to take place. The
perception is built on objectively and subjectively, but more on subjectively as it is
founded on individual senses. It can be deliberate or intentional when related to
architecture. It differs from one person to another as it is based on one's experiences.
legibility, an another potential challenge to the reading can be explicated as a degree
up to which a building allows its users to find their path and produce a mental map of
spatial arrangements and connectivity in their head. It is also linked to how one can
easily comprehend the underlying intentions of the built forms by its building design
features. It was a valid argument over semiotics, as architecture as a material culture is
communicative and its significance can be considered and interpreted. However, its
subjectivity allows the individual to read and experience the architecture through
varying perceptions and positionality.