Human civilizations have always focused on storytelling as a compelling method of communicating their experiences, values, and beliefs. Storytelling is not always just for literature or amusement, it can be used in various forms and fields, including architecture. As pointed out by Frank Darabont, visual storytelling is one form that has been around since cavemen, who were drawing on the walls. Throughout history, people have conveyed stories using visual aids. Visual storytelling helps in identifying the past, & present and creates a tale to connect and enjoy in the future. Visual narratives are omnipresent in the architecture field. Any built environment can record its past and use space to narrate that tale. Architecture creates a spatially visible link between the past, present, and future; as it can create a mark in the place and culture’s chronology.
How do architectural stories affect an individual’s thoughts and perceptions?
Individual’s thoughts and perceptions of their surroundings, culture, society, and places are modified by architectural stories and narratives. Architecture is more than just buildings and can affect our day-to-day activities. Being surrounded by buildings can have an impact on the emotions of both specialists and common people. Architecture is simply more than materials, colors, forms, and spaces and is a major component of our culture. Not having the subject knowledge can limit one’s perspective on any building and as the person gains more knowledge about the field, the perspectives shift drastically.
Mankind has come a long way from seeing a structure as a mere box to being able to identify and appreciate every element of it. We are now more familiar with and able to differentiate between modern & vernacular architecture, from hamlets and villages to towns & cities, interior & public spaces. As mentioned by Julia Morgan, architecture is a form of visual art and buildings emote by speaking for themselves.
Architecture through Cartoon-Stories
American illustrator Richard McGuire through his graphic novel ‘Here’, aims to portray his childhood living room through pictures, memories, and projections from the year 1907 to 2313. Through his creation, he shows us the same living room, but over different timelines. The point of view remains the same, however, the representation of time windows lets us have a peek into the living room’s immediate surroundings dating back to ancient times along with the building in which it is housed. The room’s shifting furnishings, window, and fireplace also offer hints about the passage of time in the form of a storyline. These stories challenge the reader to actively participate and to make connections with the various temporal planes.
Architecture through Photo-Stories
Photo stories have been used as a powerful journalistic narrative device in trade journals to lure readers through contemporary buildings. This approach makes territorial design-related issues more approachable and makes the viewers feel more like they belong in the world of cartoons than real-world experiences. Bjarke Ingels, through a growing number of design competition victories, deft and capillary use of media has made him one of the most well-liked architects of the younger age. The formal origins of his firm BIG’s design projects have been represented in his book ‘Yes is More’, which has a visually striking quality reminiscent of science fiction and cartoons. The architect himself is the main character of the book and he walks the reader through the evolution of his ideas and forms, starting from the basic concepts and ending with both analog and digital views of his surreal buildings. Ultimately, this form of storytelling is more convincing than the final structure itself.
Technology Driven Stories
Information communication technology (ICT) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are developing at a phenomenal pace and in the context of the “Smart City” movement, it refers to the use of data to create intelligent, connected, adaptive, healthier, and more productive human environments. What does this imply for our neighborhoods and public areas? By integrating technologies like generative AI and augmented reality (AR), public spaces are made more engaging and dynamic; promoting community building and involvement in shared experiences. This also fosters deeper understanding and development of a “we feeling” through shared identity by assisting in the removal of potential obstacles between individuals. “Smart Carpet”, a creative street design project intended to be a living, breathing surface treatment that adjusts to user needs in an adaptable manner, has been recognized by the city of London. The street is designed to be a combination of pavement modules or stories that use of multipurpose systems that provide energy, support LED lighting displays, interlocking furniture, sensory identification; and real-time analytics.
The above visual narrative examples convey not just the philosophy of the respective stories but also the ideals, beliefs, social ramifications, and the culture at large. These designers have accomplished no ordinary achievement and every cultural story examined in this article has influenced the society’s perspective in a manner that it be displayed as a cultural relic. Several other similar narratives, structures, and spaces have impacted different racial groups, social levels, and family dynasties throughout history. These stories not only explain their purpose to the most ordinary people but also convey the lessons to be learned as every single component is an outcome of their past and the present. Architects have a task at hand of explaining today’s stories to the public through the use of unique storytelling techniques. This will inevitably help in narrating the present design of buildings and public spaces to future generations and provide users with a more immersive and engaging experience. Additionally representing the history, culture, and values of the community by including more visual narrative aspects can further enhance the design process and overall journey.
Reference list:
Chavan, P. (2023) The impact of architecture in our daily lives, Reader’s blog by the Times of India. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/artbypranali/the-impact-of-architecture-in-our-daily-lives-51839/.
Coxall, M. (2018) Smart Design for a Smart Future. Available at: https://mcgregorcoxall.com/news-detail/282
Ravichandran, B.M. (2023) Building narratives: How storytelling shapes architectural design, LinkedIn. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/building-narratives-how-storytelling-shapes-design-bakyalakshmi-m-r/ (Accessed: 27 December 2023).
Wallace, Claire Nicole, “Storytelling Through Architecture” (2007). Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_chanhonoproj/1129
Quici, F. (2017). Architecture and Visual Narrative. Proceedings, 1(9), p.1082. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings1091082.
