Metaphysics in Architecture- The Jewish Museum in Berlin case study

There are many sources that architects rely on as an intellectual impetus for their inspiration in architecture concepts and projects design. One of the most influential sources is the metaphysical legacies of previous civilizations and religions that shape ideas and conscience and influence the conception of the architecture design ideas. This paper aims to discuss the impact of the metaphysical content of the Jewish religion on the architecture of the Jewish Museum in Berlin designed by Daniel Libeskind. Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that studies the primary principles of the world. Its branches are based on ontology, which studies the nature and levels of existence, cosmology, which studies the universe and its components, and theology, which studies the existence and nature of God. Metaphysics is linked to the collective memory of peoples through religions, belief systems, stories, and sacred legends. It often tells a reality or a fantasy from which man derives his visions and perceptions of the (absolute) God, the universe and existence that form his cultural background and metaphysical motives. In order to monitor the impact of metaphysics and its branches as an intellectual impulse in the formation of the architecture of the Jewish Museum in Berlin. The paper will follow an analytical methodology to study the expressive and figurative vocabulary of the museum, based on semiology, which depends on the translation of physical forms and symbols, as well as on the philosophy of interpretation to extrapolate the impact and the reflection of the metaphysics of Judaism on vocabulary and the form of the building.

This paper will adopt Ferdinand de Saussure's model of differentiation which has two basic principles: (1) that linguistic evolution occurs through successive changes made to specific linguistic elements; and (2) that these changes each belong to a specific area, which they affect either wholly or partially. Ferdinand De Saussure called Semiology a Theory of Signs. What he meant by the word "Signs" is anything that refers to something indirectly or is a reminder of it. That could be through reading text, gesture, form, photo, or a building. "Sign is something, anything, which "Stands for" or reminds us of something else".