The concepts of analogy and metaphor in architecture: A comparative study

Human describes the thoughts in his mind by establishing relations with some objects while adding architectural accumulations to the environment he lives. While establishing relations with the objects sometimes he uses the method of formal metaphoric design in which he uses the object as metaphor directly; also sometimes he uses the method of conceptual metaphoric design in which he uses the object as metaphor indirectly. Analogy is the accordance with proportion. Metaphor is the form of analogy which contains semantic. Architect interprets metaphor which he chooses as the beginning of the design process, according to himself. The project develops and concludes with this interpretation. He transfers an image to the building with metaphor. The result reflects this metaphor. Metaphor causes the building to gain symbolism. It is seen that the number of metaphoric buildings especially zoomorphic ones increasing. The increasing in the number of the metaphoric buildings is directly proportional with the developments in today's technology. The progress in material, computer and structural fields makes the applications of the projects possible which are impossible to be built in past. Original metaphoric buildings are considered important because of being constructed against impossibilities beside possibilities. This thesis emphasizes the concept of metaphor. The speeches on the usage of metaphor in architecture are examined. The effects of the developing technology on architecture are investigated. The examples of metaphoric buildings in our country and abroad are examined and analyzed.Keywords: metaphor, analogy, zoomorphic architecture, metaphoric design, formal metaphor, conceptual metaphor, technology