Maya Serghi

On the Meaning of Space:

Architecture from the Perspective of Literature

My research delves into the intersection of Architecture and Literature, aiming to redefine architectural spaces through the lens of literary tools. By integrating analogy, allegory, and metaphor, I seek to offer a fresh perspective on spatial experience, exploring how these literary structures can transform our understanding and interaction with architectural elements such as windows, columns, and gates.

Motivated by a curiosity about how we perceive and interpret spaces, and driven by my passion for literature and research, I construct spatial situations within an installation. This constructed space invites viewers to engage with representations of it, rather than physical environments. Through this exploration, I aim to blur the boundaries between architecture and literature, allowing them to inform and enrich each other. I see mean-making in architecture and literature as similar algorithms, almost identical processes which happen to have the same origin: the human mind.

In my work, I challenge conventional perceptions of space by choosing archetypal representations and manipulating architectural elements to align with literary thinking. This approach seeks to show that we do, indeed, ‘read’ spaces. By viewing space from the perspective of literature, I attempt to bridge these two art forms, creating a dialogue between them at a foundational, etymological level.

Fundamentally, my research asks profound questions about the nature of space and representation:

• How do literary tools transform our understanding of architectural elements?
• Can representations of these elements provide a valid spatial experience?
• How do we read spaces?

I believe that Architecture should be like Literature—the closest physical expression of Thought. It is the closest we can get to the materialization of a vision, showcasing the architect’s inner thoughts and worlds and making them tangible. This exploration not only challenges and expands our conventional notions of space but also highlights the shared algorithms of understanding and generating meaning between architecture and literature.

My project aims to uncover new spatial truths by connecting archetypal elements like windows, columns, and doors with literary tools such as analogy, allegory, and metaphor. This approach reshapes our perceptions and expands the possibilities of spatial design, offering fresh insights into the human experience of space and our need to define and read it.

As a creator, I aspire to push the boundaries of both disciplines, using my passion for literature and architecture to innovate and inspire. Through this work, I hope to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of how we interact with and interpret the spaces around us, enriching both fields and expanding the boundaries of how we conceive and experience space.

My research is an inquiry and a creative endeavour aimed at merging Architecture and Literature in a meaningful way and its process of producing meaning. By exploring the connections between these two disciplines, I strive to offer new perspectives on Space and representation, inviting others to see Architecture through a literary lens. This journey of blending literary and architectural thinking not only enriches my work as a maker and spatial researcher but also aims to inspire those who engage with it.

Deze pagina is voor het laatst gewijzigd op 7 mei 2024

Sta jij op deze pagina? En heb je een opmerking? Mail naar de redactie.