Can Architectural Identity Be Measured?

Abstract

The sustainable breadth of architectural identity is a remarkable phenomenon with many dimensions. These dimensions are melded together to produce an architectural form. Form as the final architectural product is shaped by the visual cues that produce symbols as a powerful tool in identifying a specific architectural trend. This study aims to construct a theoretical framework for the permanence of local identities to answer the main assumption, which is the following: Can identity be measured? It endeavors to clarify the main effective parameters that affect the permanency of architectural identity. It assesses the measurement variables of architectural identity based on multiple architectural perspectives and different points of view. The methodology of this study contains two broad approaches: a checklist and a questionnaire. The results provide a new model that includes three significant poles of architectural identity (mental images, originality, and building regulation). The findings enhanced the sustainability concept of architectural identity, which forecasts the permanency of architectural identity.

Keywords

• architectural identity
• mental images
• originality
• building regulation