Sometimes reality is too complex. Stories give it form. – Jean Luc Godard

Stories engulf all art forms and are an integral part of our daily lives – whether we are aware of it or not. Architects are one of the world’s oldest storytelling profession. Their natural ability to illuminate a story through drawings, building and developments have immersed them in the storytelling hall of fame, and with the digital revolution, architects continue to offer reality in a more profound form.

Architects – like actors – develop a narrative to guide their audience through their design process. Over hundreds of years, their art continues to evolve alongside (and in front) of their audiences. Through digital platforms, such as social media and other applications, architectural stories empower their audiences to “walk-through” or “Fly-through” a scene with them. Architectural storytelling is pivotal to the development of meaningful spaces and messages.

Historical storytellers

Traditionally architecture – along with providing shelter for people –  provided a tangible and practical medium to record history. Before the arrival of print and paper, architecture documented history through cave paintings, ancient cultural designs as well as the well documented Renaissance architecture. While these visual stories were highly refined, they were systematic methods of preserving information and often depicted elements within the society.

Designs and structures were created to unfold a series of experiences. These experiences revealed themselves while walking through spaces which before modern technology was the only manner to absorb any architectural surroundings. Traditional techniques, such as ‘episodic architecture’ were used to unravel a story within a story and dissect illusions of space within the architecture – a feature currently seen in modern virtual architecture.

Traditional architecture was widely unpredictable, as architects created a space that could house elements which evoked specific experiences. These experiences were hardly ever experienced in the manner architects envisioned. The subjectivity of emotion when the room is viewed from the front, back or side or even walked through from a different angle creates an environment of entirely interpreted experiences. In many ways, this unpredictability nurtured creativity and created innovative architectural designs.

Digital Storytellers

Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today – Robert McKee.

Contemporary architecture is revolutionising the manner in which stories are conveyed. No longer are buildings only experienced when they are built, they are instead virtually walked through and seen before any bricks are laid. Virtual architecture has infused traditional architectural elements into a digital narrative that reaches a broader audience.

Little is left to the – at times distorted – imagination with virtual architecture. 3D renders and animation harness elements of cinema into the visualisations and conveying of a message. Designers are using their natural storytelling ability to open the doors of developments before they are built. Just as modern artists incorporate traditional techniques with their narrative, virtual architects incorporate traditional storytelling through modernised techniques.

Architects and designers have a plethora of technologies available to them. These technologies allow 3D renders and CGI architectural animation to go beyond the realms of reality while depicting the precise dimensions of a moment in time – before it happens. When coupled with a story to tell, it is rare that virtual architects cannot pull at audiences emotive heartstrings.

Vizform believes in bringing your project to life by offering valuable insights into its potential. During the design phase, it is inevitable to conceive new ideas that enhance the design, functionality, and comfort of a space. With Vizform, you can craft and experience the perfect space.

We invite you to see the reality before it has even been constructed. Contact us today!