Patterns of Perception and Interaction in Architecture in the Light of Abd al-Qāhir al-Jurjānī’s Views on Rhetoric

This essay discusses patterns of perception and interaction in architecture inspired by Abd al-Qāhir al-Jurjānī’s views on rhetoric. In this view, the presence, perception, and interaction of architect, building and the observer/inhabitant has been looked upon as a whole. So, by referring to al-Jurjānī’s views on rhetoric based on the unity of words and meaning and exploring his ideas on creation and conduct of meaning in conformity with the theoretical basis of the study, his views on order and poetic imagery were studied as a basis for explaining the architectural patterns of perception. Based on this inspiration, three patterns of allegory, metaphor and envision were suggested and defined as levels of perception and interaction in architecture. These patterns are described in order as propositional, creative and presential; and the architectural attributes of form, function, and meaning are relatively recognized as different prior and bold aspects of perception for each. These patterns were also discussed for their functions in providing the means of detailed and concise perception of the space as different levels of creation and comprehension of meaning in architecture.