Difference and Repetition Based on Rhizome in Urban Facade Architecture with Focus on the Thought of Gilles Deleuze

Abstract

In recent years, the urban façade has shifted from being a merely decorative surface to a central element of identity and communication, mediating between private and public spaces as well as between individuals and society. This study seeks to apply Gilles Deleuze’s philosophical concepts of “difference,” “repetition,” and “rhizome” to develop a new approach to the analysis and design of urban façades. The significance of these concepts lies in the fact that “difference,” as a generative and creative force, enables façades to break away from uniformity and embody diversity, while “repetition,” in Deleuze’s sense, represents creative regeneration rather than mechanical duplication, thereby linking unity with multiplicity. Furthermore, the notion of the “rhizome” as a horizontal, networked, and non-linear structure provides the basis for a more democratic understanding of urban spaces and for the fluid interaction between façades and the urban fabric. A comparative study of global architectural examples, such as the works of Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, and parametric architecture, alongside an examination of urban façades in Iran, illustrates the potential of a hybrid model that draws upon both tradition and contemporary innovation. The findings reveal that such an approach not only enhances the aesthetic value of façades but also produces broader social consequences, including the strengthening of collective identity, the democratization of space, and a rethinking of the relationship between architecture and the citizen.