Reading architectural structures through the relationship between architecture and language: The case of Alayköşkü street in the historic peninsula

Architecture is not only the embodiment of physical space but also a field of production where social values, ideologies, and historical continuity become visible as a linguistic system. Buildings, like the words of a language, can be read as a whole of signs that convey meaning, generate messages, and contribute to the urban memory through their façade arrangements, decorative elements, and spatial compositions. In this study, 22 buildings located on Alayköşkü Street in Istanbul's Historic Peninsula were examined based on the framework presented in Günther Fischer's work "Architecture and Language". Within this framework, façades, ornamental elements, and architectural details of the historical buildings were analyzed separately, while the contemporary buildings were interpreted through a holistic reading under syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic criteria. Drawings and tables were prepared accordingly. In light of the collected data, semiotic readings of all the buildings were carried out, and the results were evaluated comparatively in a comprehensive table.