A semiological analysis of urban space in transitional cultures, a case study of Tashkent's city centre
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Date
2000-05-01T00:00:00Z
Authors
Demytrie, Daniel A.
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Abstract
The thesis examines the issues of architectural and urban semiotics in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It reviews and analyses the changes that have occurred from the onset of Russian rule to the present (2000), summarising the changes in the urban fabric that have occurred prior to Soviet rule, during Soviet rule, and since Perestroika. The inquiry is driven by the reclamation of urban and cultural identities in light of the lifting of a hegemonic rule. The author performs a semiological analysis of urban space and artefacts, interprets the results and presents a design intervention for Tashkent's city centre. The literature review undertaken prior to the empirical research is thorough and considered to be sufficient in providing information to serve this research as well as future endeavours in this area of study and in architectural and urban semiotics. The aim of a defined case study is to provide enough information as to allow the reader to develop thoughts beyond those of the author. This is done with a review of various sources of information, all of which are felt to be critical to the development of a comprehensive understanding of Tashkent's urban cultural identity. The design intervention is intended as a starting point for future discourse addressing the expression of cultural identity through urban artefacts and organisation in Tashkent's city centre. While the design intervention proposes an urban design and organisation, it should not be interpreted as an event or artefact that is itself a solution. Rather, the intervention is intended to challenge readers and provide a medium through which readers propose alternative ideas.