Investigating a narrative architecture - Mackintosh's Glasgow School of Art

Abstract

In this paper a theoretical approach and a methodology to investigate and document a narrative architecture will be presented. In the architecture field the word narrative is often used in reference to ways of representing or telling the story of a project. Within the context of this research with the expression “narrative architecture” the authors mean an architecture that, like a book, tells a story through its material and immaterial characteristics. In order to analyze the selected characteristics of a narrative architecture, a possible approach is represented by a digital 3D reconstruction and a critical analysis of the digital model produced. The digital reconstruction process and the theoretical background have been applied to a case study, a masterpiece in the history of architecture: Mackintosh's Glasgow School of Art. Several graphic works have been created to communicate the main characteristics of this narrative architecture. The research project attempts to explore ways to study and explain existing buildings from new and innovative points of view, but at the same time it can trigger important reflections in architectural design and education.