Re-Reading of Architectural Works by Means of Intertextual Criticism Model; Case Study: Valiasr Mosque

This study reviews the relationships between the elements of the inner and outer text, and their impact on the overall meaning of the architectural work based on the intertextual reading. In this research, after an explanation of the basics of the theory of intertextuality as a tool of criticism, the model of intertextual criticism of architecture has developed. A model has been tested for Valiasr Mosque reading.

This research seeks to answer the question: How does the application of the intertextual criticism model provide a context for reading the architecture?In this research, the main hypothesis is that using intertextual relationships in syntagmatic and paradigmatic axes and diachronic and synchronic analysis, will lead to the recognition of deeper text layers and decryption. It seems that using of intertextual reading has prevented superficial reading of architectural works and it investigates the work of architecture as part of a series of works which have been formed over time and its application can lead to better understanding the hidden layers of meaning and it causes more precise interpretation of work in broader paradigms.

This research is qualitative research. In the data-gathering step, the descriptive method been used to describe the subject matter and in the analytical phase of the data used logical reasoning method. This research is based on the theory of intertextuality and has studied the text (here the work of architecture) in various layers.

The findings of this research indicate that the text of the architecture formed in several semantic layers from the phenotextto, genotext, and the types of implications are effective in the formation of its layers, by applying the intertextual criticism model the layers of the layout retrieved from the layers of architecture to extra-architectural.