Spatial Mise-en-Scène and Narrative in Architecture: A Comparison of Tschumi’s Event-Based Approach and Psarra’s Narrative-Centered Approach

Volume 23, Issue 154
April 2026
Pages 33-46

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Architecture, NT.C, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Architecture, RO.C, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
Problem statement: Attention to narrative and spatial mise-en-scène in contemporary architecture has provided new possibilities for the interpretation and interactive organization of space.
Research purpose: This study aims to comparatively examine two prominent theoretical approaches, event-centeredness in the thought of Bernard Tschumi and narrative-centeredness in the theory of Sophia Psarra, in order to elucidate the capacities of spatial mise-en-scène in narrative-oriented architectural design. 
Research method: The present study employed a qualitative methodology, grounded in comparative theoretical–conceptual analysis and discourse analysis. Data were collected through a review of specialized literature and the analysis of exemplary cases (such as Tschumi’s Parc de la Villette and selected projects discussed by Psarra), and were compared using the criteria of narrative structure, user action (agency), and spatial form. 
Conclusion:The findings indicate that Tschumi’s event-based architecture emphasizes the production of discontinuity, tension, and interaction between space and event, whereas Psarra focuses on multilayered narrative, interpretability, and experience-centered spatiality. The comparative analysis suggests that integrating these two approaches can offer novel models for contemporary cultural and public architecture. The study underscores the necessity of rethinking the architectural design process through a narrative-oriented approach and employing semiotic and analytical tools to create meaningful and participatory spaces.

Keywords

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