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Symbolism in contemporary architecture, with facades made of precast concrete elements Cover

Symbolism in contemporary architecture, with facades made of precast concrete elements

By: Paweł Mika and  Jing Yifan  
Open Access
|Sep 2025

Abstract

The article deals with the issue of symbolism in contemporary architecture with facades made of precast concrete elements. The aim of the study was to demonstrate that such facades, beyond their structural and aesthetic roles, can also serve as a medium of communication, referring to the history of a place, local traditions, or the architect’s design intent. An analysis of more than 100 buildings was conducted on the basis of literature, project documentation, statements by architects and critics, as well as case studies. The findings identify four main methods of embedding symbolism: through the overall form of the building, the design of precast elements, the relief and tectonics of surfaces, and the structural system itself. The conclusions confirm that contemporary prefabrication is no longer limited to repetition and standardization but has become a tool of architectural narration, in which facades function as a system of signs, culturally and emotionally legible to the observer.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37705/TechTrans/e2025012 | Journal eISSN: 2353-737X | Journal ISSN: 0011-4561
Language: English
Submitted on: May 7, 2025
Accepted on: Sep 16, 2025
Published on: Sep 20, 2025
Published by: Cracow University of Technology
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

© 2025 Paweł Mika, Jing Yifan, published by Cracow University of Technology
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License.