Written language constitutes an integral part of every urban landscape. However, in many cases there is no logical design and semantic relationship between the typographic elements and the architectural structures to which they are applied, resulting in visual pollution, a cacophony of words within the built environment.

Taking this fact into account we can propose the concept of typotecture, a new form of architecture that integrates the graphic with the architectural field, an architectural practice that, in its role as a medium of communication, incorporates typography into its substance and expression.

The research initially focuses on a systematic, chronologically structured historical analysis of existing examples of typotecture, along with their underlying theory, ranging from primitive pre-modern achievements to more coherent contemporary manifestations. This process helps us to identify an existing yet ill-defined cross-disciplinary design practice. Subsequently it creates a backdrop for its further development through the proposal of new innovative typotectural examples by experimenting with current digital design tools.

The research aims to demonstrate that several building typologies where communication processes are involved (commercial, educational, religious, among others) have the capacity to transmit the required typographic information inherently, either two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally. These can offer fixed and mutable messages either explicitly or implicitly, depending on the function typotecture intends to serve (identification, navigation, promotion, education, recreation or mystification).

The overall goal of the study is to prove that typotecture is capable of enhancing the value of architecture as a medium of communication, and contribute to contemporary meaningful and effective urban environments.