Structuralism, Transformation, and Process of Meaning in the Towers of the Arabian Peninsula

Abstract

Before the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, villages and towns of the Arabian Peninsula possessed several types of towers. The towers include warning and defense, minarets and lighthouses. These structures, built for highly practical purposes, became endowed with a rich symbolism which affected the behaviour of the people who lived in their shadows. The unification of Saudi Arabia in 1932 brought new transformation to the uses of the structures and eventually a demand developed for new type of towers. Telecommunication towers, airport towers, electrical, silo, incinerators etc.. The change of function, is always associated with the inception of new meaning and attitudes. Recently, Saudi Arabia has witnessed the introduction of new and important towers which brought new trends in art and architecture to the country. This work attempts to understand the transformation in towers in light of the historical context in which they were built and used. The meaning in the architectural form can be achieved through examination of a structure which not only affected past events but still contains meaning for the inhabitants and new generation of Saudis today. The paper represents an analysis of various towers in an attempt to build a theory of meaning and thoughts using the towers as a vehicle. However the study is suggestive of further research to be done exploring various other important issues which could be added to the current discourse on meaning such as symbolism in the built environment.