Sign and Symbol, by John Onians Signs,

¶ … Sign and Symbol," by John Onians

Signs, symbols are different depending on Context and Medium:

Context = needs of builders, users

Medium -- physical dispositions of floors, walls, roofs, supports, materials

Link between physical and expressive properties -- gives signs and symbols power in architecture

In architecture, walls, doors have real and symbolic functions

Eg. A wall excludes "before it expresses exclusion" -- has real, physical effects

Wall, roof of hut -- protection; posts -- stability; doorway -- openness; threashold -- controlled access

Group of huts = social coherence

Architecture gave meaning to concepts fundamental to existence

Hut does not just communicate meaning, it constitutes meaning, it embodies meaning

Eg of symbolic architecture that is deliberate -- Dogon -- buildings located to express gender roles, and placement of head, body

Underlying awareness that response to buildings is "cognate with response to people"

Dense urban cities -- need to differentiate between classes, status, roles; expressed in different durability of materials -- also with height! -- symbol of tall building being closer to heaven -- ancient ziggurat v hut

By first millennium -- all cultures seemed to be aware of the role of architectural sign, symbol

Columns (in Egypt -- decorated to represent abundance with fronds of trees -- v- Greece with vertical lines)

Steps and podium express social status

The arch associated with heaven and conquest -- eg the triumphal arch; or semi-circular niche for a deity

Christianity -- columns becoming 12 apostles to reflect scriptural references such as Paul saying the apostles "support" the church; the arch separating nave from altar -- arch of triumph over death

New wave of Church construction -- buildings laid out according to specific numerical values with scriptural or symbolic references such as Holy Trinity, 8 Beatitudes, etc., and elevation to heaven

Paris 12-13th centuries -- new School of Paris -- Gothic emphasizing "mystical signification" more lightness in the design, less materiality

Also shift away from Roman style, which symbolized paganism

Pointed forms, evoking "convergence of branches," capitals and pinnacles with leaves, now flower symbolizes living church

15th century Italy starts to abandon Gothic architecture