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Kobra Feyzollahzadeh, Farhang Mozaffar, Mansoureh Kianersi,
Volume 12, Issue 4 (12-2024)
Volume 12, Issue 4 (12-2024)
Abstract
The phenomenal world and matter derive its validity and quality from the inner world and spirituality (and meaning). Many consider contemporary architecture is less successful in the emergence of spirituality and meanings compared to the architecture of the past. The question of what spirituality and meaning is and how to realize it in architectural spaces, and as a result, improve the quality of human living spaces, is one of the important concerns in the discussions of the architectural design process. In this paper, meaning and meaning-oriented with emphasis on the relationship between meaning and spirituality; And paying attention to the relationship between meaning and truth, beliefs and values governing human life (effective in architectural design) is desired; Therefore, the word (spirituality) is considered as a closer and more accurate equivalent for "meaning".
The main goal of this article is to understand how to discover and embodying spirituality and meanings in the design process; And as a result, the quality of architectural works is improved. For this purpose, this paper, after an examination of the concept of meaning, explores relevant theories of spirituality and meaning within the field of architectural design and has proposed a framework for understanding the issue of "spirituality and meanings” in architectural design. This framework is presented in the form of eight interrelated and continuous features: spirituality (and meaning) versus tangible and perceptible through the power of reason and thinking; implies a qualitative matter; Being rooted in values; "spirituality (and meaning) in architecture" related to "human meaning"; "spirituality (and meaning) in architecture" related to "context and background features"; spirituality (and meaning) have different levels and degrees; from being the same source of spirituality (and meaning) and form; "ideas" in architectural design originate from " spirituality (and meaning)".
In continuation and along the theories of spirituality and meaning, in order to find answers to three key questions, the research has moved in three layers. Firstly, the origins and foundations of spirituality and meaning in architectural design has been discussed; then, the ways of realizing spirituality (and meaning) and methodological approaches have been addressed, and after that the methods, techniques and tools have been expressed, both for the purpose of discovery and for paving the way for manifestation of spirituality and meaning.The findings of this paper indicate that, subsequent to the primary origin of meaning which is intrinsic to the Divine, secondary origins of meaning can be identified. The first category, comprising universal meanings independent of the design context, arises from the designer's knowledge and definitions in the realms of humanity, existence, and values; as well as the designer's mode of thinking as a system (the designer's intellectual system). The second category, encompassing specific and context-oriented meanings, stems from the characteristics of the problem and the design context. These specific meanings are also perceived under the umbrella of universal meanings, and it is the designer's thinking that plays the most significant role in the process of meaning-seeking in architectural design. Human (as a designer and as a user and audience of an architectural work) has the most important role in understanding, discovering, manifesting and reading spirituality (and meanings); and since human existence has different dimensions (physical to spiritual), different fixed and general aspects (common in humans, general characteristics) and relative and variable aspects (partial, locational, temporal characteristics); The meaning also has a fixed and general nature as well as a variable and relative nature.
Perception of spirituality and meanings is done through the power of thinking, therefore, the quest to the spirituality and meaning in the architectural design process is done through thinking and questioning in these three areas, which in this article is called “inquest of spirituality (and meaning)” has been proposed as a methodological approach. This inquest of spirituality and meaning through appropriate and relevant questions; inspection and redefining effective concepts, and finally formulating and re-framing the problem in the architectural design process, becomes possible. Therefore, "framing" is the second methodological approach and "manifestation", which makes the relationship between spirituality (and meaning) and form clear, is proposed as the third methodological approach. The manifestation of spirituality and meanings has degrees and is relative; And the important point regarding the use of methods, techniques and tools in the manifestation of meanings is that their use is in line with the spirituality and meanings in the situation and context of the design issue.
This research employs a qualitative approach and utilizes logical reasoning to understand the relationship between concepts and analyze data. Consequently, various levels of contemplation regarding the issue of meaning in architectural design have been revealed. This classification and attention to the distinction between these levels, by clarifying the intended meaning, its origins (theoretical foundations), methodological approaches, methods of manifestation, specific techniques and tools, and by explaining the relationships between these levels, provides a stronger basis for moving from the theoretical realm to practice (and avoiding the pitfalls of similar research that gets stuck in theoretical discussions about meaning). Subsequently, logical inferences have enabled the formation of a comprehensive conceptual model of meaning-seeking in the architectural design process, which is presented in the conclusion section.
The main goal of this article is to understand how to discover and embodying spirituality and meanings in the design process; And as a result, the quality of architectural works is improved. For this purpose, this paper, after an examination of the concept of meaning, explores relevant theories of spirituality and meaning within the field of architectural design and has proposed a framework for understanding the issue of "spirituality and meanings” in architectural design. This framework is presented in the form of eight interrelated and continuous features: spirituality (and meaning) versus tangible and perceptible through the power of reason and thinking; implies a qualitative matter; Being rooted in values; "spirituality (and meaning) in architecture" related to "human meaning"; "spirituality (and meaning) in architecture" related to "context and background features"; spirituality (and meaning) have different levels and degrees; from being the same source of spirituality (and meaning) and form; "ideas" in architectural design originate from " spirituality (and meaning)".
In continuation and along the theories of spirituality and meaning, in order to find answers to three key questions, the research has moved in three layers. Firstly, the origins and foundations of spirituality and meaning in architectural design has been discussed; then, the ways of realizing spirituality (and meaning) and methodological approaches have been addressed, and after that the methods, techniques and tools have been expressed, both for the purpose of discovery and for paving the way for manifestation of spirituality and meaning.The findings of this paper indicate that, subsequent to the primary origin of meaning which is intrinsic to the Divine, secondary origins of meaning can be identified. The first category, comprising universal meanings independent of the design context, arises from the designer's knowledge and definitions in the realms of humanity, existence, and values; as well as the designer's mode of thinking as a system (the designer's intellectual system). The second category, encompassing specific and context-oriented meanings, stems from the characteristics of the problem and the design context. These specific meanings are also perceived under the umbrella of universal meanings, and it is the designer's thinking that plays the most significant role in the process of meaning-seeking in architectural design. Human (as a designer and as a user and audience of an architectural work) has the most important role in understanding, discovering, manifesting and reading spirituality (and meanings); and since human existence has different dimensions (physical to spiritual), different fixed and general aspects (common in humans, general characteristics) and relative and variable aspects (partial, locational, temporal characteristics); The meaning also has a fixed and general nature as well as a variable and relative nature.
Perception of spirituality and meanings is done through the power of thinking, therefore, the quest to the spirituality and meaning in the architectural design process is done through thinking and questioning in these three areas, which in this article is called “inquest of spirituality (and meaning)” has been proposed as a methodological approach. This inquest of spirituality and meaning through appropriate and relevant questions; inspection and redefining effective concepts, and finally formulating and re-framing the problem in the architectural design process, becomes possible. Therefore, "framing" is the second methodological approach and "manifestation", which makes the relationship between spirituality (and meaning) and form clear, is proposed as the third methodological approach. The manifestation of spirituality and meanings has degrees and is relative; And the important point regarding the use of methods, techniques and tools in the manifestation of meanings is that their use is in line with the spirituality and meanings in the situation and context of the design issue.
This research employs a qualitative approach and utilizes logical reasoning to understand the relationship between concepts and analyze data. Consequently, various levels of contemplation regarding the issue of meaning in architectural design have been revealed. This classification and attention to the distinction between these levels, by clarifying the intended meaning, its origins (theoretical foundations), methodological approaches, methods of manifestation, specific techniques and tools, and by explaining the relationships between these levels, provides a stronger basis for moving from the theoretical realm to practice (and avoiding the pitfalls of similar research that gets stuck in theoretical discussions about meaning). Subsequently, logical inferences have enabled the formation of a comprehensive conceptual model of meaning-seeking in the architectural design process, which is presented in the conclusion section.
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