Semiotics in Architecture: From Symbolism to Spatial Configuration | ||||
| International Design Journal | ||||
| Article 25, Volume 15, Issue 3, May and June 2025, Page 337-357 PDF (2.28 MB) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/idj.2025.369131.1292 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Author | ||||
Sammar Mahmoud Gomaa 
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| Lecturer, Glass Department, Faculty of Applied Arts, Helwan University, Egypt | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Are buildings just physical structures or do they hold stories and symbols? This research seeks to decode the hidden language of architectural buildings by analyzing different semiotic elements. How can buildings speak to us and influence our feelings and experiences? This is the role of semiotics in creating rich and meaningful spatial experiences. The architectural designer is viewed as a writer who tells a story through buildings, which are the alphabet he uses to construct this story. Architectural designers can exploit this knowledge to design more humane and sustainable buildings. Semiotics is key to understanding the complex relationship between humans and architectural space, as it contributes to shaping the profound meanings of buildings. Despite its importance in understanding culture and human communication, its role in architectural design is often overlooked. This research seeks to bridge this gap by analyzing how architectural elements are used as symbols and sign systems to construct specific meanings, and to capitalize on the pivotal role of semiotics in shaping the meanings and impressions that individuals receive from architectural buildings. This is done by analyzing (specific semiotic elements) and how these elements contribute to building a spatial identity that reflects cultural values. and social context, to provide new insights for architectural designers interested in creating more immersive and conscious spatial experiences. The research problem: Highlighting the role of architectural formation in building identity and communication with the external environment through design semiotics. Research objective: • Identifying the pivotal role of semiotics in shaping architectural buildings by analyzing the role of the designer in understanding the underlying meanings of geometric shapes and design elements and how to transform them into architectural designs that meet the needs of users. Research hypothesis: • Finding creative solutions for architectural formation by designing more profound and sustainable buildings utilizing semiotics. Research scope: • Applied to the architectural design course for third-year students in the Glass Department at the Faculty of Applied Arts at Helwan University, Egypt. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Semiotics; Symbolism; Architectural Form; Identity | ||||
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| References | ||||
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[1] Begnell, J., “Media Semiotics, an Introduction”, Manchester University Press, Manchester, 1977.
[2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0020737380800125
[3] Loures, L. and Panagopoulos, in “Sustainable Development and Planning III”, Southampton, UK, WIT Press, 2007.
[4] http://www.timgriffins.ca/writings/vd-body.html
[5] Hossam El-Din Galal, “Semiotics of the Image in the Contemporary Advertising Poster”, PhD Thesis, Faculty of Education, Assiut University, 2015.
[6] Gamil Hamdan, “Semiotic Trends, Semiotic Schools and Trends in Western Culture”, published book.
[7] Fatima Ahmed, Rehab Mahmoud, "The Impact of Semiotics and Morphological Semantics on Developing the Intuitive Product (The Cafe Chair as an Applied Model)", Journal of Design Sciences and Applied Arts, Volume 3, Issue 2, June 2022.
[8] Hela Mustafa, "Semiotics of Cultural Communication in Contemporary Art", Wameedh Al-Fikr Journal, published research, 2020.
[9] Barakat Muhammad, "The Role of Design in Visual Enrichment in the Modern World", published research, 2016. | ||||
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