Architecture and theatre might seem worlds apart—one grounded in steel and concrete, the other in script and spotlight. But what if buildings could hold a sense of drama? What if architecture didn’t just serve function, but evoked tension, rhythm, and narrative, much like a stage does?
This article explores how thinking like a theatre-maker can reshape the way we design, build, and experience space. From stagecraft to scenography, the principles of dramaturgy can inform how spaces make people feel, move, and remember.
Pull-quotes from Es Devlin
“For most of her career, her job has mainly been to bring someone else’s vision to life. But now she’s coming in earlier in the process and as an artist herself. Mendes is collaborating with her on a play that hasn’t even been written yet: the visuals are just as important as the words.”
— Es Devlin, on evolving her role from interpreter to author
Source: Es Devlin in “Designer Es Devlin: all the world’s her stage,”
The Guardian, 29 Sep 2019 — link here
What is Spatial Dramaturgy?
In theatre, dramaturgy is the invisible logic behind a story—how tension builds, how scenes flow, how emotions escalate or resolve. Spatial dramaturgy borrows this logic and applies it to physical environments.
- A space designed with dramaturgy in mind considers:
- Where the “entrance” moment begins.
- How light and shadow guide emotion.
- When openness gives way to intimacy.
- What is revealed—and what is concealed.
It’s the rhythm of the room. The suspense of a corridor. The emotional arc of moving through space.
Architecture as Scene Design
Every building already has a script—whether written or not. People enter, pause, move, gather, leave. These actions can be shaped intentionally.
Set designers and directors think in terms of audience experience. Architects can do the same.
A staircase can be a crescendo. A window can be a spotlight. A door can be a dramatic reveal.
The Thirsty Lawyer, a bar designed by our studio, takes cues from this thinking. We designed the space as if it were a three-act play:
- Act I — The Threshold: An iron gate marks the shift from public street to theatrical interior.
- Act II — The Stage: A central bar area doubles as a social performance space.
- Act III — The Hidden Scene: Private booths and moody lighting create zones of intimacy and secrecy.
This wasn’t decoration. It was dramaturgy.
Why This Matters
Spaces don’t just host people—they shape emotion. They cue behaviour. They build memory.
- Whether it’s a museum, a restaurant, or a home, spatial dramaturgy helps designers ask better questions: What mood do we want to build?
- What journey should someone go on?
- How does this space make someone feel… before they even realise it?
Understanding spatial rhythm and emotional pacing gives designers a new language—beyond floorplans and materials. It’s a language of feeling.
Designing a space is not unlike writing a play. It has structure. Emotion. Rhythm. Conflict. Resolution.
We believe the future of architecture isn’t just structural—it’s theatrical.
Because a good space isn’t just seen. It’s experienced.
