The Place of Ekphrasis in the Formation of Architectural Narrative

Abstract

In the architectural design process, the architect(designer) engages in an internal dialogue with themselves, the object of their design, and other stakeholders. This dialogue, in turn, takes place through language and reveals a narrative. Within the architectural design, this language is established through (architectural) representation/ drawing. However, architectural drawing possesses symbolic and semantic layers akin to any language. This study focuses on these layers through “ekphrasis”, which is based on the relationship between visual and verbal representation, and asks: “How does ekphrasis as a method relate to the meaning of architectural drawing, and how does it find a place for itself in the architectural narrative?” In this study, the text-meaning-drawing relationship is examined using the deconstruction method and case study techniques. Therefore, a drawing workshop was conducted utilizing Homer’s Iliad, as it was the first ekphrastic text. The findings are then discussed in relation to the role of ekphrasis in shaping the architectural narrative.