Environmental discourse of architecture

Abstract

This study attempts to examine the environmental discourse of architecture. The attempt to constitute a linguistic framework for the environmental discourse requires a critical understanding of the interrelationship among the following concerns: a) discourse as a ‘system of statements’ that prescribes the ‘theoretical formation’ of an object, b) architecture as a field in which several discourses (professional, technological, social, representational, theoretical, etc.) operate around their specific objects, c) environmental discourse as a discursive ‘formation’ which involves verbal or non‐verbal ‘statements’ referring to the problematic of environment. The analysis of the linguistic figures such as clichés, interpretations and definitions, reveals the discursive power of language as a condition in which environmental discourse forms its discursive objects and produces discursive effects in architecture.

Keywords:

• Environmental discourse
• Architecture
• Linguistic figures