NARRATORIUM

Narratorium Proposal

Narratorium, a place where stories are to be told. Stories in various displays generally told by an individuals, rather than books. Books being a means of storage for a narrative. The real story is truly interpreted when told by an individual. The unfolding narration of a physical, a verbal, or expressive interpretation begins to surface the essence of storytelling. There are several ways in which to reiterate a story, such as books, movies, music etc.

Stories in this understanding can be fiction or nonfiction, although I believe them to be more non-fictional, and have to do with real life experiences. Story telling is a large part of everyone’s life. We tell stories several times a day. We also pay a great deal of money to see plays and operas, which are conditions of live storytelling. As humans we strive to have human interaction and for drama. We continuously reinterpret our personal experiences to others, which is a means of telling a story. We also capture history thorough a series of telling stories.

I really believe that storytelling has more to do with a human interaction. Having that human contact with someone, rather then a false way of communication. To truly understand the story in its full context we need to have the physical manifestation. Seeing the person’s expression and gestures add many details to the story.

So to me this allows several ways of interpretation, as long as the person is physically present when experiencing the storytelling process. Narrations, Music, Plays, Operas, Musicals, Historical folklore are all an approach of storytelling.

For this place to be a Narratorium it should comprise of not only places to tell these stories but also casual places to allow for interaction to occur to create stories, also for storytelling.


PROGRAM

General concept of the structure
A Narratorium being a place of story telling I see this structure as though it tells a story of its own and is very honest. It begins to display the stories of the many that inhabit it.

Performance Space
For these performances of storytelling, we begin to see the need for several spaces or one space that allows for the many conditions of storytelling. I see this space as a tailored auditorium that can allow for a small-personalized space or also allow for a large group of people.

Practice Space
I feel as though a space is needed for the formal performances of storytelling to be practiced, this space will be something of a series of small spaces that are soundproofed and allow for small audience.

Gathering Space
This space is to be a place of social gathering, before, after performances, also for just the purpose of social interaction. Seeing this space as very open and welcoming.




Personalized gathering and thinking space
This space has the purpose of social interaction between the storytellers, a place for these people to come together and express their thoughts to one another, sharing experiences and gathering thoughts, possibly also a place for recording thoughts and reading if necessary.

Casual social spaces
These spaces are to be used by the general public but also exposed to the rest of the program of the structure. I envision these spaces to consist of coffee shops, and a place for the general public to interact.

Service space
These spaces are needed for all structures but I believe that this Narratorium these spaces should be honest service because they begin to reveal the story of the structure. These elements of the structure I see as revealed and exposed.

STAFF

This facility is to consist of many people. The main people that will inhabit these spaces will be the people that will be telling the stories, which are from Portland that want to tell their stories, formal or informal Many people will be invited to tell their stories from all over the world, in a more formal setting.

There will need to be the general staff such as janitorial services, book keeping, service staff, and people that work for the coffee shops