Metaphorical architecture is an architectural movement that developed in Europe during the middle of the century.[1]​ Although it is considered by some to be another aspect of postmodernism, others consider it to be a separate movement and a later development of expressionist architecture.[2]​.

The style is characterized by the use of analogy and metaphor as the primary inspiration and directive for design. Some well-known examples are the Palm Mosque at King Saud University in Riyadh by Basil Al Bayati, based on the shape of a palm tree,[3]​ the Lotus Temple in New Delhi by Fariborz Sahba, based on a lotus flower,[4]​ the TWA Terminal 5 in New York by Eero Saarinen, inspired by the shape of a bird's wings,[5]​ or the Sydney Opera House, in Australia, by Jørn Utzon which is derived from the sails of ships in port.[6]​.

Some architects have also used the same metaphor repeatedly throughout their work such as Le Corbusier and the open hand motif. This for him was a sign of "peace and reconciliation." It is open to give and open to receive."[7] Another architect who has used metaphors in a more profound and complex way is the architect Daniel Libenskind, of whom we can cite as an example one of his most notable projects, the Jewish Museum in Berlin. In this complex work, the architect designed a series of spaces whose intention is to transmit feelings of the Jewish Holocaust, this in a metaphorical way; such as the "Garden of Exile", a square space made up of 49 columns arranged in a grid. These hollow concrete columns were filled with soil from Berlin except for the central column, which was filled with soil from Jerusalem, and vegetation has been placed on top.

Perhaps the most prominent voice of the metaphorical architecture movement today is Dr. Basil Al Bayati whose designs are inspired by trees and plants, snails, whales, insects, dervishes and even mythology and literature.[8]​ He is also the founder of the International School of Metaphorical Architecture in Malaga (Spain).[9]​.