The Relationship between Archetypal Patterns of Architecture and the Unconscious Mind: A Thematic Analysis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Urban Planning, Islamic Azad University Pardis Branch, Pardis, Iran

Abstract

This study explores the structural and symbolic interplay between architectural archetypes and the unconscious mind, grounded in Carl Gustav Jung’s analytical psychology. Despite the increasing interdisciplinary discourse between architecture and psychology, the symbolic reflections of the collective unconscious within spatial experience and architectural form remain insufficiently addressed. The central research question asks: Which architectural archetypes have consistently reappeared throughout the history of civilizations, and how do these recurrences symbolically represent the layers of the collective unconscious in terms of spatial logic, form, and meaning? Methodologically, the study employs a qualitative thematic analysis approach, integrating systematic coding in MaxQDA software and convergence assessment via R software to reinforce analytical validity. The dataset comprises 86 historically and culturally significant architectural works categorized into cosmic, natural, and birth–death archetypes, which are examined in relation to the four Jungian layers of the unconscious: Persona, Shadow, Self, and Anima/Animus. The findings demonstrate that architecture possesses an inherent capacity to encode and evoke unconscious psychological patterns. Recurrent themes such as transcendence, symmetry, centrality, spiral or radial geometry, balance, and symbolic transitions from material to metaphysical dimensions reveal architecture not merely as a physical construct but as a medium of psychological integration and cultural continuity. These motifs reflect universal experiences embedded in spatial memory and the collective psyche. The primary contribution of this research lies in proposing an adaptive analytical model termed the "Jungian Architectural Lens", which synthesizes symbolic-spatial reading with Jungian theory and thematic coding. This framework enables the systematic identification and interpretation of archetypal structures across historical and contemporary contexts, offering a novel diagnostic tool for researchers and designers alike. In doing so, it opens a new avenue for architecture to enhance psychological depth, cultural resilience, and spatial meaning in design practice.

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References

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Journal of Design Thinking
Volume 5, Issue 2
December 2024
Pages 283-300

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