Narrative Structures in Architecture: Case Study of the Museum of Apoxyomenos

<p>Narrative architecture aims to communicate meanings through spatial qualities by actively engaging users as both readers and participants in storytelling. This paper investigates narrative structures in architecture through a case study of the Museum of Apoxyomenos in Mali Lošinj, Croatia, using a qualitative methodology that combines a short literature review with a single-case study analysis. The museum serves as an empirical model to examine how spatial design holds and transmits layered narratives in contemporary architectural practice, employing spatial reading, sequential spatial analysis, and the study of spatial experiences to deepen the understanding of architectural narratology within museum typology. Particular attention in the case study is given to the integration of outdoor areas, transitional thresholds, and framed views, which are recontextualized as distinct narrative scenes, emphasizing their role in generating emergent spatial meanings. The Museum of Apoxyomenos employs a hybrid narrative form that weaves multiple, overlapping stories into a unified spatial experience, presenting a broad background narrative encompassing diverse layers of meaning. The applied narrative structure positions visitors as active participants in the unfolding story, requiring interaction not only with the exhibition structure but also with the broader urban and cultural context. The findings of this study encourage a reevaluation of museum architecture, proposing that design should be understood not merely as a physical construct, but as an active communicative medium capable of shaping perception and conveying complex narratives.</p>