Aims and objectives
The aim of this undergraduate thesis is to consider semiotics and explicate the merging of two disciplines, and thus its role in shaping the concepts of interior architecture. The study by nature is exploratory and makes an attempt forward through the following objectives:
To comprehend the gamut of the selected model of semiotics – Triadic model of Charles Sanders Peirce and his taxonomies.
On the basis of above, to identify the sign-systems ingrained within the design in the examples of interior architecture and their affects.
And to examine the extent till which the signs get conveyed to the user.
Methodology
Answering why, through a theoretical comprehension stating the need and the relevance of semiotics in the discipline of interior design, achieved through studying and reviewing various viewpoints held in this direction.
Bringing clarity from the reference material available and explaining the triadic model and the taxonomies of Charles Sanders Peirce by demonstrating various examples.
Selecting examples of interior architecture with prominent metaphoric associations and carrying out a survey for tracing down the levels of detectability of their associated meanings and categorizing these examples on the basis of their obtained detectability.
Taking the superstructure arrived at from the study of the model of Peirce to locate sign-systems in the design of these examples (which is understood from the available project data, visual data, and drawings) and observing the manner of how meaning is constructed.
From the above deriving the reason for the varying detectability and concluding with ‘what this model of Peirce has to offer to our discipline’.
SYNOPSIS
A Semiotic Taxonomy of Metaphoric Associations in Interior Design
Field of interior design continues to engage its conceptualization process with design thinking in a mode of metaphors. The enquiry about the representation of metaphors and reading of their meanings within the domain of interior design is approached by taking a page out of the theoretical science of semiotics and trying to apply it to strengthen the value of the communicated concept.
To investigate the reason behind the varying degrees of detectability of the embedded metaphoric associations in interior spaces this study explores one of the semiotic theories - Charles Pierce’s triadic model, due to the presence of a third element in the model which is the interpretant (the obtained thought). Being construed from the aspects of Pierce’s theory of signs, this thesis sketches out the model in the following manner:
A sign is understood as a presented entity (X) which is determined by a driving force from a referred entity (Y) and which directs the obtained thought towards the very same entity (Y).
The study draws from Pierce’s foundational categories of semiotics that ideas and concepts are constructed and read from simple impressions in three ways of mental processes:
Resemblance (X is like Y)
Reason (X is because of Y)
Recall (X stands for Y)
Further, it has been recognized that all three – the presented, its relationship to the referred and the obtained thought - are always occupied by one of the above mentioned three modalities. For each element, there are three kinds of possibility.
For the presented – quality (1), modified quality (2), and constructed quality (3)
For the relationship between the presented and the referred – likeness (1’), performed actions (2’), and fixation of belief/generalization (3’)
For the obtained thought –comparison (1”), justification (2”) and acknowledgment (3”)
Quick Models made to explain three modalities - Resemblance, Reason & Recall
The defining of these categories leads to certain derivations. Summing up of these derivations can be explained briefly as the obtained thought cannot be of a higher order than that of the relationship between the presented and the referred which in turn cannot be higher than the presented entity. This gives such a kind of relationship pattern among the elements that 10 possible ways of generating a sign are recognized:
1 1’ 1”, 2 1’ 1”, 2 2’ 1”, 2 2’ 2”, 3 1’ 1”, 3 2’ 1”, 3 2’ 2”,
3 3’ 1”, 3 3’ 2”, 3 3’ 3”
11'1"
21'1"
22'1"
22'2"
31'1"
32'1"
32'2"
33'3"
33'2"
33'3"
Metaphors, alongside the practical decision making, are seen to be used as an instrument of thought in the conceptualization process of an interior space. On the basis of the semiotic triadic model and taxonomies, the study explores the sign systems ingrained within the approaches made in direction of metaphorical association. Twelve examples (shown below), that were designed with a constant referred entity - a tree/s, are selected to enquire and study the detectability levels of the integration of these approaches.
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![Agri Chapel]()
Agri Chapel, Japan | Yu Momoeda Architecture
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A Cantina, Spain | Estudio Nomada
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Coeda House, Japan | Kengo Kuma
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East Village Market, Australia | Koichi Takada
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Hollow, UK | Katie Paterson
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House NA, Japan | Sou Fujimoto
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House of Sunlight through trees, Japan | StudioGreenBlue
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La Casa de Paul, Canada | MXMA Architecture & Design
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Large Tree Home, Bulgaria | Ignatov Architects
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The Tote , India | Serie Architects
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Tree House, South Africa | Malan Vorster
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Tree of Knowledge, Australia | Brian Hooper Architect and m3architecture
Illustrations showing the study of these spatial designs
A continuum is formed, on the basis of a carried survey of 178 participants, which divides these examples into four types according to the metaphor’s ratio of disassociation to association.
The CERTAIN – Showing high association
The IN-BETWEEN – Showing association
The AMBIVALENT – Showing ambiguity
The ALIENATED – Showing disassociation
The inferences gained from studying the sign structures of these examples puts forth the reasons that affect the efficiency of the obtained thought (interpretant) in form of comparison and also the certain aspect such as: signs allow to control the amount of change that can be brought in front of one’s perspective and on the basis of the sign-vehicles that are structured together, different values- translative, re-generative, generative and transformative - can be attained. Eventually, all this leads to a better shaping of the methods to construct metaphorical concepts.
The CERTAIN : Translative Value
The In-Between : Regenerative Value
The AMBIVALENT : Generative Value
The Alienated : Transformative Value
Observations & Outcomes
Value becomes translative value when there is application of the same quality in every episode.
In the category ‘the Certain’ it is observed that the containing containers/presented of the eventual sign is composed with maximum of its content to be of just extracted qualities in their bare state. Thus, the value of the meaning that gets born can be said to be a translative value. The meaning with translative value is incapable of bringing change but highly capable of maintaining familiarity.
Value become re-generative value when there is an intention to create a similar quality but by different means.
In the category ‘the In-between’ it is observed that the containing containers/presented of the eventual sign compromises both – modified qualities and constructed qualities. But the amount of modified qualities is much higher and the constructed qualities are present in a very small dose. Thus, the value of the meaning emitted here can be said to be a re-generative value. The meaning with re-generative value does bring in a pinch of change but within the zone of familiarity.
Value becomes a generative value when a newer quality is originated by amalgamation of multiple qualities.
In the category ‘the Ambivalent” the containing containers/presented of the eventual signs are seen to be comprising of all three types – qualities, modified qualities/effects and constructed qualities. The quantity of the qualities in their bare state is negligible while the gap in the quantity of the modified qualities and the constructed qualities is not vast enough to make any one of them dominant. Thus, the emerged value of meaning of this category can be said to be of a generative value. Meaning with generative value steps out of the zone and ensures to create in reasonable amount of change.
Value becomes transformative value when an already existing value undergoes manipulation.
In the category ‘the Alienated’ there is only a single containing container/presented that exists in the state of a modified quality or an effect. Hence, it could be said that the value of meaning is a transformed value.The meaning with transformative value stands capable of bringing in maximum change, change that serves to be outrageous.
With the help of the model, the study brings to front something that is very silently established within the practice of interior designing and suggests a programmatic and structured manner to go about it. This thesis thus shows the potential of Charles Pierce’s theory of semiotics to become an essential approach which could be practically applied in the development of metaphoric associations in the process of conceptualization.
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