Creative Writing Activity: If Buildings Could Talk

The Conway Library Archive

The Â鶹TVÍøվ’s Conway Library archive is home to almost 1 million photographs of architecture from around the world, of all periods up to the present day. The contents of the Conway are incredibly varied and range from everyday houses and homes, to fortresses, castles, temples and palaces!

The selected photographs in this activity are a wonderful starting point for creative writing activities.

Choose one image for each writing activity.

1. Another Planet:ÌýWrite aÌýMission Report

Imagine you are an interstellar explorer, on a mission to discover a new planet.ÌýWhen you land on ³Ù³ó±ðÌýplanet this building is the first thing you see.ÌýCompileÌýa report about your mission, stating what you have found. Be as descriptive as you can. You could even compile a video or audio report, to send back to mission control.ÌýÌý

  • What words would you use to describe this building?Ìý
  • Does this building remind you of anything you may have seen before?Ìý
  • What do you thinkÌýthis building is used for?ÌýCan you see any clues to what the purpose of the building might be?Ìý
  • What does it tell you about the people/beingsÌýwho live there or those who use it?ÌýÌý

2. Lost in the Woods:ÌýAdventure Stories

You find yourself lost in the woods, you stumble into a clearing and the only thing you see for miles is this building.ÌýUse one image and these questions as a starting point for a story and think about what might happen next. Your story could be spooky, or you might prefer to write something uplifting and magical. You could then use your story to create a comic strip or graphic novel with illustrations.ÌýÌý

  • Think about how you might feel when you see this building. Would you be scared, excited?Ìý
  • What do you think this building might be? Could it be someone’s home?ÌýÌýÌý
  • Would you go inside of this building? If yes, what would find inside?Ìý
  • Do you think that thereÌýare people inside of this building? If yes, what are they doing?Ìý

3. A Day in the Life:ÌýWriting a Journal

Imagine you live in this buildingÌýand you are writing a journal entry for one specific day.ÌýTry to include as much detail as you can. You can break the day down intoÌý1 or 2 hourÌýchunks if you like.ÌýÌý

  • Think about what kind of person you might be?Ìý
  • PerhapsÌýyou are a superhero and this is your secret lair?Ìý
  • PerhapsÌýyou are a wicked sorcerer and this is your haunted castle?Ìý
  • WhatÌýwasÌýthe first thing youÌýdidÌýwhen you woke up?ÌýWhat did you do next?ÌýÌý

You couldÌýadd illustrationsÌýand floor plansÌýto your diary to show what your home looksÌýlike on the inside.ÌýÌý

Download If Buildings Could Talk – Courtauld Conway Archive Creative Writing Activity



Images:

AllÌýimagesÌýcourtesy of the Conway Library, Â鶹TVÍøÕ¾ of Art CC BY NC 4.0Ìý

  1. AliÌýQapuÌýPalace (AliÌýGapuÌýPalace;Ìýemarat-e AliÌýQapu),ÌýCirca 1610, Isfahan, Esfahan province, IranÌý
  2. Pei, I.M.,ÌýNational Gallery, Wings (building divisions),Ìý1975, Washington, District of Columbia, United StatesÌý
  3. Castle, 14thÌýCentury, Sully-Sur Loire, Loiret, FranceÌý
  4. LeÌýCorbousierÌý(Charles Edouard Jeanneret), VillaÌýSavoye, Façade, 1928 -1930, Poissy, Yvelines, France, Photographer Tim BentonÌýÌý
  5. Lurçat,ÌýAndré ,ÌýWerkbundsiedlungÌý(WerkbundÌýHousing Estate), House,Ìý1930-1932, Vienna, Austria, Photographer Tim BentonÌýÌý
  6. BagrasÌýCastle, 12thÌýand 13thÌýCentury,ÌýBagras, TurkeyÌý

Citations