Structure as source of syntactic ambiguity in contemporary architecture

Abstract

In contemporary architecture structure has become part of the explicit language of the building often acquiring a somewhat-foreseen relevance yet conveying ambiguous visual information. This article discusses how structural elements participate in the syntax of contemporary architecture and whether the interface structure-space is becoming a source of syntactic ambiguity in contemporary architecture. Using selected case studies the concepts of transparency gravity-less and cantilevering are evaluated first as sources of aesthetical functional and semantic value in architecture and then as sources of innovation in structural design. Insights suggest that the aesthetical contribution of the structure to the architecture goes beyond the mere physicality of the structural solution. © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.