Human-space relationships as narrative processes for inclusivity

Inclusion is a broader term connected not only to race, origin, religion, and economic status but also to health status, physical and intellectual inequalities, and disabilities of any level. Nowadays, more than ever, it is fundamental to find a way to confront and overcome stigma-related problems, increase well-being and quality of life, and give voices to people living at society’s margins. In addressing the human-space relationship as a narrative process, a research question emerges: What is the connection between the experience of space and Storytelling? To reply to this research question, the paper presents two action research projects which explore a narrative-based approach to the experience of spaces in the form of narrative-based processes for promoting inclusion and home-making dynamics. These two cases highlight how Spatial Design can support Storytelling while narrative can considerably benefit architectural understanding and perception of space. In particular, the first research-action explores how home-making processes enable people with dementia (PWD) to create and establish a sense of belonging in their living environment after relocating from their homes. These practices encompass the involvement of material possessions in the form of objects owning an intrinsic emotional value. The memories and emotions embedded in those treasured possessions bring along narratives and habits proper of each older adult, which promote belongingness and trust towards the new living context. Through individual memory and personal narratives, this in-field research aims to understand how PWD have manifested belonging and identity formation in the material and immaterial practices of their new “home” environments and, from this understanding, create a narrative of home-making practices. Similarly, the project ACTS - A Chance Through Sport experiments with the transformative power of stories considering the educational purposes of prison facilities and the power of imagination in shaping the function that sports and the space of physical activities can represent. During the project, practical strategies for rethinking stories in practice, in the form of collaborative storytelling activities, were designed to support the construction and reconstruction processes of individual and collective identities. The main aim was to challenge the ordinary representation of penal institutions, overcoming the common belief that sports activity in prison is merely a hobby whose potential is neutralised by the emphasis on crime and punishment. To conclude, these two experiences demonstrate how experimenting with storytelling techniques, world-building practices, and home-making practices can underpin the design of inclusive spaces (physical, digital, virtual, or hybrid). As a result, we can create spaces that support social dialogue and collaboration, foster the reappropriation of places, and create a sense of belonging.