Architecture Is Sociology In Material Form

           

           A long, long time ago back in high school, my English teacher made us read “1984” by George Orwell. The book basically discusses the effects of an Oligarchical form of government on society. I can vividly remember one scene in the book where Orwell describes the Ministry Of Truth, which is the main government building. Orwell does an excellent job of making the building sound ominous; he states, “…it was startlingly different from any object in sight. It was an enormous pyramidal structure of glittering white concrete, soaring up, terrace after terrace…dwarf the surrounding architecture.” (Orwell) From this description the reader automatically understands what the building is communicating, dominance over society.

            The language a building speaks should clearly communicate the architect’s intentions. In “Rethinking Architecture” Umberto Eco breaks down the idea of architectural language into codes. Eco differentiates these codes as primary functions and secondary functions. The primary function denotes architecture as a “functional object.”  (Eco) The program and initial utility of the building are all primary functions. Eco describes primary function as “…the first meaning of a building is what one must do in order to inhabit it – the architectural object denotes a form of inhabitation.” (Eco) The secondary function connotes architecture as a “symbolic object.” (Eco) I believe that it is this secondary function that separates architecture from ordinary buildings. The architect fills their building with symbolic meaning, which allows it to communicate with society. Eco states this about implied meaning “we said that besides denoting its function the architectural object could connote a certain ideology of the function. But undoubtedly it can connote other things.” (Eco) The architect can only imply these secondary meanings into the design; it is up to the individual to interpret the signs.

            The architect becomes a sociologist when assumptions are made about how people react to symbols. Subconsciously people analysis symbols and subsequently make decisions based on their interpretations. The use of material an architect chooses states a lot about a space. For instance steel and concrete may appear “heavy” giving the impression of strong structure, where as a “light” material such as glass or latticework may give the impression of fragile structure. The use of proportion can also give off certain connotations. Large spaces often take a hierarchical role, which can imply importance or formality. Smaller spaces have the same power; they can imply intimacy or inter-perspective. It is my opinion that great architecture fulfills the primary functions needed but couples it with the connotative power of the secondary functions.

Citations:

Orwell, George. 1984: a Novel. New York, NY: Published by Signet Classic, 1977. Print.

Eco, Umberto "Function and Sign: The Semiotics of Architecture," from Rethinking Architecture (London: Routledge, 1997) 173-193 (originally published in 1986).