ABSTRACT
Architecture organizes space surrounding man. It organizes this space as
a whole and with respect to man in his entirety, that is with respect to all
the physical or psychic actions of which man is capable …
(Mukařovský 1977: 240)
Part 1: Architecture and meaning When we observe architecture in the twenty-fi rst century, it is obvious to suggest that buildings provide more than basic shelter. We know that the built environment of any modern human habitation is a cacophony of spatial compositions, ornaments, styles and typologies. We know that the rich complexity encoded in the built environment provides ample material for architectural critics, historians, theorists, anthropologists, sociologists and countless others. We know that buildings are among the most sophisticated objects that humans create. We know that buildings can express our political, moral and social ideals, but do we understand how? Is architecture a medium for information? Are buildings a language of communication?
