In the beginning, architecture was all about habitat and shelter. Not so anymore. Over the years, this discipline has evolved to impact every aspect of life beyond mere functionality: from improving well-being to representing society to changing lives for good.
In recent years, storytelling through architecture has gained momentum — not just in a few iconic buildings, but in public and private spaces across cities and communities. It matters today how one remembers past events and what they could mean for the future. There is a need, therefore, to express — with wood, metal, stone — all of these ideas, dreams, memories and events.
One of the biggest things architectural storytelling achieves in the process is the breaking of boundaries.
Time
For a memorial that transcends the boundaries of generations and of time itself, consider Ground Zero. Where the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York once stood is now a dented and hollow space in history marking the tragic events of September 11. In a bid to create a permanent memorial to the site, a competition was launched and architect Michael Arad’s entry, Reflecting Absence, won.
His proposal featured twin waterfall pools surrounded by bronze parapets with the list of names of the victims. In the centre of each pool is a square basin that water cascades into and that never fills up. Michael’s design proposal provided the visitors with an immersive experience where the story of that event was frozen in time for people to ponder upon.
Two decades on, the memorial is able to evoke powerful emotions — not just for those who suffered through the trauma of the tragedy, but even in those born after 9/11. The memorial, which the people never forgot, continued the story of the event after it had ended. It was a tale of tenacity, courage, and the will to rebuild.
Design
Architectural storytelling also breaks barriers of design. If you’ve ever visited the Sagrada Familia in Spain, the strong pull of the narrative begins as soon as you enter the church all the way till you exit it.
Antoni Gaudi redefined the very ideas of his time by using creative ways to analyze and work out difficult construction and structural details, such as the interior arches for his cathedral, for which he hung a weighted string upside down to understand how arches form naturally.
Gaudi’s organic taste displays his natural inspiration, which is visible not only in his designs but also in the innovative approach he adopted in working out structural and construction aspects. Rich in symbolism, the Sagrada Familia is loaded with stories of anguish, agony, and, finally, joy and hope, from the start and throughout the interiors. It’s not for nothing that art critic Rainer Zerbst said “it is probably impossible to find a church building anything like it in the entire history of art”. (Zerbst, 1988)
One often associates materials such as stone, wood, concrete, etc., as crucial to the construction of a building or space. Each of these materials, when used creatively, has a story to tell such as where they were sourced from, its potential in the use of dynamic forms, or its cultural or historic significance. However, the narrative takes a more exciting twist when the material used is intangible. One such example is the use of light and shadow which have been Louis Khan’s counterparts when it came to architecture.He used these ‘building materials’ to not only create a sense of serenity and mystery but also break the boundaries of design by making the immaterial material.
Culture
When a space is transformed to allow visitors to experience its infrastructure, it marks the beginning of a journey that allows people to learn as they go, breaking barriers of language and origin. One such example is the Expo 2020 held in Dubai — a space where even warring nations and those with storied histories were able to coexist (think Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Arab nations) for the six months of the global exposition.
It also allowed visitors from various walks of life to become part of the space by means of powerful storytelling, which enabled them to understand the character and potential of each host country. Every pavilion was impressive in its own way, using sensory elements and scenography as anti-climaxes in many of the interpretations. From elevating seats to transforming/moving structures, visitors saw a glimpse of where countries came from and their visions of the future.
Narratives to remember
It is structures and spaces like these that change public perceptions by breaking barriers of communication and allowing people to understand why these are symbols of significance. One begins to appreciate the sheer feat of technology, the thought and workmanship behind the architecture — and how, in the end, such iconic places and structures are built to create or contribute to a sense of identity and purpose. These are no longer seen as places that serve a basic functional purpose but as embodiments of expression that leave a profound impact on people. The use of storytelling as a key element in the process of design enables the building or space to have a voice and to change the environment it is in.
Storytelling in architecture supports both ends. It gives the architect an opportunity to craft a narrative in the design process with the aim of breaking barriers of unfamiliarity, thereby creating a project that is unique — and it gives the public a chance to be part of that story, thereby forging connections with the space that would not be easily forgotten.
Citations for Books
Zerbst, R. (1988). Gaudi 1852- 1926: Antoni Gaudi i Cornet – A life devoted to architecture. Taschen.
Citations for images (according to order):
- Simoes, J. (2022). Memorial Pools at Ground Zero New York. [Photograph]. (New York, USA)
- Houmadi, A. (2017). Memorial World Trade Center. [Photograph]. (New York, USA)
- Lendl, C. (2022). A woman touching the names of the victims of 9/11. [Photograph]. (New York, USA: Featured in Editorial, Street Photography, Spirituality Library)
- Spratt, A. (2019). Sagrada Familia. [Photograph]. (Barcelona, Spain)
- Allen, D. (2022). The interior arches of the cathedral. [Photograph]. (Barcelona, Spain: Featured in Editorial)
- Sidheek, S. (2022). Dubai Expo 2020, Al Wasl Dome. [Photograph]. (New York, USA)
- Monsy, N. (2021). Covered walkways in between pavilions [Photograph]. (Dubai, UAE)
- Monsy, N. (2021). Sustainability Pavilion E-Trees used for harnessing solar energy. [Photograph]. (Dubai, UAE)
