International Conference on Material Science and Application (ICMSA 2015)

The Study of Design Semiotics and Architectural Space Semantics

Pu-Hua YAN
Key Laboratory of Disaster Forecast and Control in Engineering, Ministry of Education of China;
College of Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, P. R. China
[email protected]

Keywords: Design Semiotics, Architecture, Space, Semantics.

Abstract. This paper summarizes the main theory and development status of semiotics in the field of
architectural design. Using the basic principles of design semiotics, it analyzes the context of space
capabilities in the field of architectural design, space syntax building mode, and the aesthetic and
spiritual space vocabulary expressed functional space. The import of semiotics in architectural design
field provides people a new research path to explore architectural design methods, research space
frame model, and understand architectural significance.

Development and Research Value of Design Semiotics in the Field of Architectural Design
Design semiotics in the field of architectural design has been widely used. Hegel had proposed "the
building is a symbolic symbol with building materials". [1]German modernist architect Walter
Gropius said: “Architecture is the crystallization of the performance of people lofty ideas, passion,
humanity, faith, and religion”. [2] That shows the architectural space as a plastic art, it contains
profound emotional symbol. The architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner in his "A History of
Building Types" wrote: "Modern architecture and architectural significance can not be separated, it
conveys to people simple, sophisticated and new technologies means and so on”. [3] C • Jenks in the
book "Signs, Symbols and Architecture" point out that architectural symbols reveal the significance
of architectural, by the association of signifer and signified. The Japanese architect and theorist Kisho
Kurokawa, pointed out that: "Talking about postmodern architecture, we should talk about semiotics
which is more sophisticated research on the contemporary world, in modern architecture and
traditional issues". [4]

Design Semiotics and Architecture

"Signifier" and "Signified" of Architecture

Signifier and signified, which is the center of Saussure theory. In the symbol system, he thinks that
the presence of the symbol depends on the combination of the signifier and the signified. If we regard
a building as a symbol, then the form of the works is a signifier, the information and meaning it
passed is signified.

Tab.1 Symbol signifier and signified

symbol signifier signified
Common symbols Symbols form Meaning of symbols
Architecture symbols Space, wall interface,furniture, colors, Function, emotional,
materials, lighting, etc. culture, status, etc.
Classification of Architectural Design Symbols
According to Pierce symbols classification, symbols can be divided into the following three
categories: image symbol of architecture, indicative symbol of architecture, and symbolic symbol of
architecture.

© 2015. The authors - Published by Atlantis Press 460

 Image symbol of architecture means that symbol image is similar to building image. Indicative
symbol of architecture means that there is a causal or spatial logic connection between symbols and
architecture. Symbolic symbol of architecture means that there is no direct link between the symbol
and the building, but by convention to produce a certain conception of the association.

Image symbol of architecture Indicative symbol of architecture Symbolic symbol of architecture

Fig. 1 Classification of architectural design symbols

Coordinates of Architectural Design Symbol

Regarding the composition of symbols, Saussure has proposed an important symbol system
concept: Paradigms and Syntagms, which both constitute the coordinates of the architectural symbols.
Vertical relationship: the pedigree polymerization of symbols in different architectural space, such as
space-style context, spatial recognition, etc, that is paradigms. Transverse relationship: structural
combination of different symbols in the same building space, such as form, space, color, texture,
lighting, etc, that is syntagms.
Architectural Symbols Spread
In the process of architectural design symbols spreading, the building itself can not speaking, but
they have verbal communication characteristics and the resulting significance, classical or modern,
sacred or intimate, ecological or simple, etc.

Design Semiotics and Building Space Semantics

Paradigms of Architectural Design Symbols - Space Context

Building space context is a set of spatial vocabulary according to spatial grammar, and consisting
of a model with consistency, repeatability and identification.
Syntagms of Architectural Design Symbols - Space Vocabulary

Vocabulary of Architectural Forms

Point, line, and surface constitute the basic elements of art and design in the form of
two-dimensional symbols. Space body is the basic element of the three-dimensional forms of
architectural symbols. Space body is the important carrier of architectural design symbol information,
and a symbol of visual communication. The elements of point, line, surface, and body are one of the
basic vocabularies between architect and user information transfer. Design symbol value lies not in its
physical form or structure itself, but its semantics shown by external form.
Gestalt psychology points out that the brain will be simplified, in order to understand the specific
visual environment. We know from the geometry, the basic shape is circular and the regular polygon
which inscribed in the circle. In these forms, the most important is the following basic shapes: circle,
triangle and square.
Round as architectural vocabulary, it is a centralized and introversion shape. Typically, the
semantics of its expression is stable and self-centered. Put a circle in the center of a place, it will
enhance its internal concentric. Put a circular form with a straight or angled together, it can cause a
significant rotation movement. [5].
The semantics of the triangle is stable. When the triangle is situated in one of its edge, it tells a very
stable pattern. However, the triangle with one vertex to be the support, it describes the unstable
equilibrium state, or in an unstable state, tilting to one side.

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Source: Architecture: Form, Space and Order
Fig. 2 Form, Space and Order

The semantics of square is pure and rational. When the square is situated in one of its edge, it is
stable. The square in an angle as a support, it is dynamic. The diagonal to the vertical or horizontal,
the square is in static equilibrium.
Vocabulary of Architectural Space

Space Vocabulary of Horizontal Elements

Elevation space means that the space is compelling, important. Sunken space gives us a hidden,
protected and peaceful feeling.
The top surface and the ground define a region of space. The top surface of the space can become
an active visual vocabulary, or make the space has directionality.
Space Vocabulary of Vertical Elements
A vertical line, such as a pillar, an obelisk or a tower, it established a point on the ground, attracting
our attention.
Vertical height affects the degree of shelter space. When the vertical height is two feet, it is hardly
to provide a sense of enclosure. When it is waist-high, vertical plane begins to produce a sense of
enclosure, while maintaining visual continuity with the surrounding space. When it approaches our
eye level, the space is divided into two spaces. When it exceeds our height, it is completely
interrupted the continuity between the two areas of visual and spatial, and providing a strong sense of
enclosure space.
L-shaped vertical expresses inward in the inner corners and outward at its outer edge. For a group
of parallel vertical, its spatial semantics is extroversion because of its parallel surface does not
intersect. For U-shaped vertical, in its closed end, the scope is well defined, and in the open end of the
U-shaped, field becomes extroversion. Four vertical enclosed spaces have the strongest privacy.
Traffic Vocabulary
Construction of traffic vocabulary formations affects our perception of architecture form and space.
It contains the entrance of the building, the shape of the path, and the relationships of path and spatial,
etc.
Vocabulary of Architectural Color
Color symbol is the most sensitive elements of the visual perception of space, with " expressing
emotion" function. It gives rise to physical and psychological reactions. This "silent language" guides
us to design and control the color of the architectural space to a certain extent.
Vocabulary of Architectural Material
The material of architectural design semiotics perspective does not refer to the physical attributes
and technical characteristics of the material, but the impression it has created. For example, a flat
smooth marble can give us a clean sophisticated feelings, texture clear wood gives a natural warm
feelings, mirror stainless express precision and high-tech.

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Vocabulary of Architectural Lighting
Le Corbusier in his "vers une architecture "remarked that architecture is massing in the sun, doing
clever, appropriate and excellent performances. Our eyes are born to observe the form of light; light
and shadow show the shape of the building. The color, intensity, size, and angle of the building’s light
and shadow make the space extremely rich light effects.

Summary
The introducing of design semiotics in the field of architecture provides a new path for researching
the theory of building space and space frame mode. It help us to recognize the building on a new level,
understand the meaning of the building, especially on the "reading" and evaluation of postmodernism,
providing a new way.

References
[1]Hegel's aesthetics, Vol.3. Beijing : Commercial Press.(1981),p.16.
[2]Peter B. Jones. Function and Character, Architectural Review, (1980).
[3]N. Pevsner. A History of Building Types, Thames and Hudson, London.(1976).
[4]Fuhe Zhang: Visit the famous architect Kisho Kurokawa . World Architecture 8306. (75).
[5]Francis D. K .Ching. architecture : form, space and order. Tianjin: Tianjin University
Press .(2005 ),p.39.

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