Capital architecture : situating symbolism parallel to architecture and technology

Capital Architecture is a symbol of a nation’s global presence and the cultural and

social focal point of its inhabitants. Since the advent of High-Modernism in Western

cities, and subsequently decolonised capitals, civic architecture no longer seems to

be strictly grounded in the philosophy that national buildings shape the legacy of

government and the way a nation is regarded through its built environment. Amidst

an exceedingly globalized architectural practice and with the growing concern of key

heritage foundations over the shortcomings of international modernism in representing its

immediate socio-cultural context, the contextualization of public architecture

within its sociological, cultural and economic framework in capital cities became the

key denominator of this thesis.

Civic architecture in capital cities is essential to confront the challenges of symbolizing

a nation and demonstrating the legitimacy of the government1. In today's dominantly

secular Western societies, governmental architecture, especially where the seat of

political power lies, is the ultimate form of architectural expression in conveying a

sense of identity and underlining a nation’s status. Departing with these convictions,

this thesis investigates the embodied symbolic power, the representative capacity,

and the inherent permanence in contemporary architecture, and in its modes of

production. Through a vast study on Modern architectural ideals and heritage - in

parallel to methodologies - the thesis stimulates the future of large scale

governmental building practices and aims to identify and index the key constituents

that may respond to the lack representation in civic architecture in capital cities.