ARC314: HISTORY AND THEORY OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE III

ASSIGNMENT 3 - STRUCTURALIST ANALYSIS OF A

BUILDING
Three Architectural codes mentioned by Umberto Eco in the article FUNCTION AND SIGN: THE SEMIOTICS OF
ARCHITECTURE.

Building : INTERNATIONAL BUILDING - OFFICE & COMMERCIAL BUILDING, SINGAPORE

• Technical codes
dealt with in the science of architectural engineering. The architectural form resolves into beams,
flooring systems, columns, plates, reinforced-concrete elements, insulation, wiring, etc.

Isometric sketch
In this sketch we can the structural elements like columns, grides etc. this
is a fine Example of Technical code.

The sketch on right is showing the column orientation, and the floor slabs
reflecting the technical code of a building as discussed in the readding.
• Syntactic codes
These are exemplified by typological codes concerning articulation into spatial types (circular plan, , ‘open’
plan etc.

• Semantic codes
These concern the significant units of architecture, or the relations established between individual
architectural sign vehicles. They might be subdivided as to whether, through them, the units
• denote primary functions (roof, stairway, window)
• have connotative secondary functions (tympanum, triumphal arch, neo-Gothic arch)
 • connote ideologies of inhabitation (common room, dining room, parlour); or
• at a larger scale have typological meaning under certain functional and sociological types (hospital,
villa, school, palace, railroad station).

Elevation of the building showing the windows and the openings

ABRAR AHMED
FA19-BAR-037