A semiotic spatial reading of the old city of Damascus

Abstract

The research deals with a spatial interpretation of the old city of Damascus, based on a semiotic approach which is derived from Pierce's semiotic vision. The structure of the spatial analysis is established on the hierarchy of relations of Pierce’s Triangle as it also aims to provide a semiotic explanation of the place in the city in four levels: the planning, the urban, and the architectural one, in addition to going through the level of the smallest scale regarding this research, namely the level of architectural elements.

The research begins with selected events from the rich history of the city; where the studied spatial data are linked to their historical urban and architectural origins. Furthermore, the historical incubator of spatial connotations has been set for the purpose of explaining and interpreting; adding to that, the changes in the city’s spatio-formal structure associated with a sequence of the historical events occurred.

The historical presentation helps to understand the urbanism of the city and to identify its architectural elements according to the nature of the research. The historical introduction forms a preliminary definition in order to reach the spatial interpretation of the captured spatial-signs that constitutes the goal of the research.

The fences of the historic city of Damascus frame the geographical limits of the research, where the study time is the beginning of the current century, taking into account a good understanding of the ancient historical origins of the city as an established background.