Twenty-Six Design Concepts, Illustrated

metonymy Metonymy is another literary term that can valuably be used in architectural deisgn. Defined literally, metonymy is the substitution of an attribute to refer to the whole. In terms of architcture, this describes a building in which an associated concept or thing replaces an original form associated with its typology.

In other words, the buildings are meant to look like something. In Atlanta, the Georgia Aquarium and College Football Hall of Fame are two buildings designed to reflect what they showcase. The entrance to the College Football hall of fame, for instance, is a large, orange oblong reminiscent of a football. The Georgia Aquarium vaguely resembles a large boat, and currently exhibits a parallel example of metonymy; as part of a promotional campaign for a new shark exhibit, decals of gills and teeth on the facade give it the appearance of a shark.