The effect of semiotics and symbols on the reading of conceptual architectural structures
Ümit Akar , Iclal Aluçlu
Abstract:
Since the beginning of civilization, architecture and living structures were included in the culture Since the dawn of civilization, architecture and spatial structures have been deeply embedded in the cultural and religious practices of societies. Among the many branches of architecture, landscape architecture has served as a powerful medium for expressing symbolic values, particularly through its integration with nature and belief systems. Although semiotics emerged as a formal discipline in the postmodern era, the use of signs and symbols in architectural and landscape design dates back to ancient civilizations. Thinkers such as Saussure, Peirce, Eco, and Jencks have each examined semiotics in relation to design and culture. This study investigates the semiotic expressions in selected landscape designs from both Eastern and Western contexts. Through the comparative analysis of two parks—Taj Mahal Gardens and Hyde Park—the study explores how cultural signs are embedded within landscape design, shaping its conceptual, symbolic, and visual meaning. Employing a multi-layered analytical framework, the research evaluates the transformation of symbols into spatial language and investigates their impact on socio-cultural representation. The results demonstrate a close relationship between semiotic theory and landscape architecture, emphasizing how symbols serve not only aesthetic and functional roles but also act as carriers of cultural memory and ideology.
Keywords:
semiotics, landscape architecture, cultural symbolism, spatial meaning, design interpretation