A Dramatistic Pentad-Based Conceptual Model Proposal for the Perception of Architectural Space

The architectural object is a rhetorical experience producer that communicates with its user as a meaningful and multifaceted social construct. In this context, architecture should fundamentally be regarded as a matter of communication and discourse. In order to seek and ensure communication in architecture, it is essential to focus on language, and in order to talk about the existence of language, it is essential to focus on symbols, signs and indicators. Therefore, this study examines the perception of the architectural object at the intersection of rhetoric and architecture by associating Kenneth Burke's discussions on symbols with the symbolic aspect of all buildings environments. The originality of the study lies in its interdisciplinary approach to Burke’s method of analysis, providing a systematic reading practice for architectural objects. The absence of any other research in the literature that adapts Burke’s pentads to different inputs of the architectural object highlights the novelty of the proposed conceptual model. The pentadic-based conceptual model developed within the study, along with its application to the Kolumba Museum, specifically interprets the architectural object through Burke’s dramatistic pentad -act, agent, scene, agency, and purpose- to facilitate the interpretation of the symbolic meanings embedded in the architectural object and to contribute to the formation of individual judgments. Thus, a neo-critical understanding that considers the entire network of relationships constituting the architectural object can be made possible. Furthermore, the study highlights the adaptability of Kenneth Burke’s dramatistic pentads for analyzing the multifaceted nature of architectural objects. By allowing flexible interpretations through different pentadic ratios, the proposed model provides a systematic framework that accommodates diverse perspectives. This approach enables researchers to explore the relationship between architecture and its symbolic meanings in a structured yet open-ended manner. Ultimately, the study contributes to architectural discourse by encouraging subjective readings that acknowledge the dynamic interaction between the built environment and its users.