Semantics and Narrative Power of Material and Form

Beyond their function, buildings also convey meaning. This meaning manifests itself in their type and form, but especially in the materials used and how they are assembled. These semantic narratives are important pillars of the work of the Stuttgart-based firm lohrmannarchitekten. Their exhibition at the Raumgalerie traces the complex process of finding a building design that incorporates space, material, history, and change. The exhibition was previously shown at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2025 at the Palazzo Mora and has now been further developed for the Raumgalerie.

In linguistics, semantics refers to the study of meaning. Applying this to architecture raises various questions, such as “What does the exposed concrete wall tell us?” or “What is the significance of the joint that separates two materials at this precise point and in this particular way?” When designing, architects have to make countless decisions that significantly influence the appearance of a building. The semantics of architecture is one way of precisely determining the aura of a building. Added to this is its narrative power on an emotional level. The choice of surfaces, their feel, the light, the form, and the topography engage in a dialogue with their surroundings. It is this contextual narrative that makes a building a structure for people. The architecture of lohrmannarchitekten is therefore often not loud, but speaks with a more decisive, precise voice. It is reduced in order to reveal the essence of building—an attitude that radiates a reassuring consistency in an increasingly complex world.

The exhibition “Semantics and Narrative Power of Semantics and Form” invites visitors to understand architecture as a language that goes beyond the purely functional. On display are three buildings designed by lohrmannarchitekten in partly large-format images, together with the real materials used in their construction. This makes the interplay haptically tangible and comprehensible. One of the projects traces the specific inspiration process, with sketches and photos showing the path from the initial idea to the finished building. Films provide a visual and acoustic insight into the atmosphere of the locations. The semantics and narrative power of the buildings can thus be experienced directly on various levels. Visitors can note down their personal experiences of semantic and narrative architecture in a dialogue book.

Opening: February 25, 2026, 6:30 p.m.