History of architecture in the mirror of the communicative space history

The aim of the article is to analyze the structure development dynamics of the architectural space in the context of communication theory and to research the relation of methods and forms of the architectural space structure to the direction of the dominant type of communication at a certain historical stage of society development. Since architecture is the place of man's living and acting, it can be viewed as a type of a communicative space. Its formation begins with the outlining of the profane and sacred spheres of space. It determines the direction of the further evolution of architecture. The communicative architectural space is developing in the course of further segmentation of the inner structure of buildings and their height growth, creating constructions that would tower over the surrounding landscape. In the Middle Ages a strictly hierarchical and symbolic space appears, giving the communication a vertical direction: from bottom to top. This principle finds its expression in the space structure of the religious architecture. During the Renaissance, the space organization becomes horizontal. It is the first time when we see the formation of the private space: the separation of the family members' and the public territories; the latter moves from the cathedral to the town square. The Modern Era's architectural space structure is formed under the influence of the first scientific revolution, geographical discoveries and changes in the political life. The concept of an infinite space appears. Unlike the Renaissance space organized according to the laws of linear perspective and architectural order, which suggested a strict system of proportions, the 16th-century Baroque bases on the active position of the viewer, who becomes a participant of the infinite space formation. The 19th century divides the architectural space into working and living areas, thus dramatically changing the structure of living quarters. The discovery of optics at the beginning of the 20th century leads to the refusal from a single point of view on the space structure and to an unrestricted placement of elements in the building. As a result, the concept of mutual penetration of external and internal spaces starts forming. In architecture, it is expressed in the appearance of internal and external space free planning. The author comes to a conclusion that throughout history we can observe changes in the structure of the communicative architectural space expressed in the transformations of interaction directions. In the Ancient Times the predominant horizontal direction reflects the syncretism of relations between nature and society. The vertical direction of the Middle Ages shows man's pursuit of God. Then comes the horizontal direction again, connected with anthropocentrism, but aimed outside, at other people; and the horizontal one in the modern culture aimed inside oneself, as a reflection of the introspection tendency.

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