Architectural form and meaning in light of Al Jurjani's literary theories

Abstract

This thesis is an application of AI Jurjani's -- a Persian scholar-literary theories as a method for the critical analysis of architectural meaning. The study is based on the understanding of architecture as a mode of communication, and aimed at examining architectural meaning in general, and the metaphorical content in particular. The process is initiated by studying the literary theories of AI Jurjani. It is followed by investigating the analogies between literature and architecture, and establishing a foundation for the analogy proposed by this thesis. The application of AI Jurjani's theories is manifested and examined through the analysis of the case study: Sultan Hasan complex in Cairo. The analysis is mainly concerned with the meanings conveyed by the building, and the different means by which they are achieved. The specific case study leads to a more general scope of issues concerning architectural meaning which are presented in the conclusion.