Designing a Narrative Hall in York: Intersections between representation, narrative and imagination

This paper presents and critically reflects on the intersection between representation, narrative and imagination in the design development and final presentation of a Narrative Hall, a building for narrative-based performances, which served as the main topic of a design studio exercise in a Year 3 undergraduate architecture course. The term ‘Narrative Hall’ was coined by the author during the development of this design studio brief and encompasses elements from multiple architectural typologies. This design studio exercise was research-led and research-informed, and part of a wider research project exploring how to reimagine architecture, places and lifestyles towards a better, more sustainable and meaningful life and future. The process of designing a Narrative Hall helped students develop their imagination and creative thinking skills, thanks to its multiple connections to narrative. Throughout the project, students were encouraged to explore the use of different architectural representations, including various projections, to analyse and interpret existing sites and their characteristics, and to develop and communicate the design of their Narrative Hall.