Composing a Compelling Architectural Narrative

We all know architecture is a multi-disciplinary work. Among all things, How can we choose what to prioritize and connect all the different elements into an unwrinkled design story? A common way for architects is to create a narrative to organize and connect all relevant elements in a project. An architectural narrative is a powerful presenting tool that delivers organized ideas to others. 

This communication skill is essential as long as this profession needs to collaborate with clients, contractors, and many others in diverse disciplines. This post guides you through the crucial and interesting architectural narrative with breakdown elements. It leads you step by step to composing a compelling architectural narrative for your project!

What Is an Architectural Narrative?

An architectural narrative can be in the form of verbal language, written text, graphical drawings, or all of them combined. Although it could be in various forms, its purpose remains consistent, delivering the design intentions of a project through the selected media. In short, it is a story the architect wants to tell.

3 Elements in an Architectural Narrative

Let us start with the 3 ingredients, Vision, Experience, and Context. They are the 3 essentials of forming a compelling architectural narrative. Their relationship, the latter supports the former with a wider boundary, similar to a pyramid.

1. Vision

A vision is the concise concept of the project. It is the intention or the goal you aim to do with this project. With the goal being set, decisions throughout the project can be made according to the vision. It is the key to keeping consistency in a single project. For example, “Holland creates space” the theme for the Netherlands Pavilion at the 2000 World Expo in Hanover was to showcase a country making the most out of limited space. Resulting in six layered Dutch landscapes stacked and having a dialog with each other.

2. Experience

An experience is the perception you create for the users according to the vision. It often focuses on designs that interact with the user’s senses. The Netherlands Pavilion at the 2000 World Expo sought to deliver a quality of life to be maintained as population densities increase. It forms an experience with a mix of nature and technology which is called “the new nature”.

3. Context

A context is the backstory of the project. Whether it is the history, the economy, the culture, or just some reference to similar cases. Utilizing a backstory gives the project an instant depth when the user starts to get familiar with a new project. “Facts may not support a designer’s original concept, but may push and pull a narrative, adding depth that createsa place more easily appreciated on more levels and by a more diverse population over time.” ^[1] The Netherlands Pavilion not only includes the typical landscape in the Netherlands but also reflects the relationship between the landscape and the inhabitants with elements such as tulips, windmills, and dykes.

Steps of Creating an Architectural Narrative

1. Define the Vision

Start by defining what story you want the building to tell. This could be about its users, its location, its function, or its cultural significance. It is better to create visions relatively simple and centered on one or a few concepts. Because this is the starting point for other people to understand your project.

2. Integrate Form and Function:

Ensure that the form of the building supports its function and narrative. The design should be a physical manifestation of the story you’re telling. Below are some points worth going through.

• Program
• User Needs
• Spatial Efficiency
• Aesthetic Harmony
• Innovative Solutions
• Flexibility and Adaptability

3. Engage the Senses:

Consider how the design engages the senses. Think about materials, textures, light, and space, and how they contribute to the narrative experience.

4. Responding to Context:

Considering the context will help you create a narrative that is rooted in its settings and resonates with the audience, such as using specific cultural symbols to express your narrative. This can make the story more relatable and memorable. Below are some points worth going through.

• Location
• Weather
• History
• Culture
• Economy
• Educational context

5. Be Consistent:

Maintain consistency in your narrative throughout the design process. Every element of the design should support the overarching story. Think about relationships between each element, and do more with less. Below are some points to enhance consistency.

• Unified design pattern
• Simplify material usage
• Logical spatial arrangements
• Aligning with surrounding
• Balancing tradition and contemporary
• Retaining core principles

6. Communicate Clearly:

When presenting your narrative, be clear and concise. Use visuals and verbal descriptions to effectively communicate your vision. Below are some points to enhance narrative clarity.

• Use renderings, models, and diagrams to create clear visualization.
• Relate all design decisions to project vision.
• Narrate a cohesive and logical design journey.
• Focus on key features to deliver the aimed experience.
• Organize Information in a Logical Flow to perform a structured presentation.
• Showcase passion for the project.
• Ensure consistency between visuals and verbal explanations.
• Expect questions and discussions.

What is a Great Example of an Architectural Narrative?

The Therme Vals, Switzerland | Peter Zumthor

“Mountain, stone, water – building in the stone, building with the stone, into the mountain, building out of the mountain, being inside the mountain – how can the implications and the sensuality of the association of these words be interpreted, architecturally?” Peter Zumthor

Let’s break down the architecture narrative of the Therme Vals.

Vision:

From the concept sketch we can see the vision of Thermal Vals was to create a form of cave or quarry-like structure. It is designed for visitors to luxuriate and rediscover the ancient benefits of bathing. It tells the story by exploring the building’s relationship with three fundamental elements, Mountain, Stone, and Water. The various relationships, such as in, on, with, and beside these elements create a diverse experience. This vision is a great example because it is easy to understand and the derivative experiences are relevant.

Experience:

Following its vision, Thermal Vals aims to deliver a rich experience through a diverse spatial relationship with the three core elements. There are some small rooms with thick walls and some relatively open spaces. The thick walls simulate the feeling of a stone cave and the experience can be enjoyed with the contrast of other more open spaces. Other than the openness, designs such as color, texture, brightness, and eye level are all dedicated to interacting with human senses to create a rich spatial experience. 

Context:

This project looks into multiple aspects of context to resonate with its vision such as the topography. To have a respectful conversation with the surroundings, the building volume is half sunken into the located hill and the grass roof extends to the surrounding ground. This contextual approach resonates with Peter Zumthor’s belief “Good architecture should receive the human visitor, should enable him to experience it and live in it, but should not constantly talk at him” In the Therme Vals, its architectural narrative has understandable simple cores. Vision, experience, and context are consistent and work clearly in each layer. Together, They create a compelling story.

How to Bring Mindfulness Elements into an Architectural Narrative?

In the end, we explore the connection between mindfulness and architectural narrative.  Should an architectural narrative be composed with mindfulness in mind? The answer is certainly! As we covered in What is Mindfulness, mindfulness is the practice of paying deliberate and non-judgmental attention to the present moment, fostering a heightened awareness of one’s thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. This practice enables the user to engage the space with their senses and notice the surroundings. Thus, If promoting mindfulness is covered in your architectural narrative, below are some points worth going through.

• Incorporate nature-inspired design elements.
• Design spaces for sensory exploration.
• Use colors with textured variations. 
• Design layouts for tranquility transitions.
• Include areas for reflection and silence.
• Implement multiple layers of lighting and use soft and adjustable lighting.
• Foster connection with surroundings.
• Address mental and physical well-being.
• Choose materials with a positive impact on the environment.
• Respect cultural values in design.
• Prioritize user comfort and experience.

Summary

This article explores the art of crafting a compelling architectural narrative, a crucial skill for architects collaborating across disciplines. It delves into the three core elements of an architectural narrative: Vision, Experience, and Context. As an example, we dissect the Therme Vals project by Peter Zumthor, illustrating how its clear vision of exploring the relationships between mountain, stone, and water translates into a rich experiential journey within the architectural space. When it comes to the step-by-step approach to creating an effective narrative, we emphasize the integration of form and function, sensory engagement, contextual responsiveness, consistency, and clear communication. To tie in this article to our mission, we also discuss the integration of mindfulness elements into architectural narratives, promoting practices that enhance user awareness and engagement with the present moment within designed spaces.

What’s next?

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