Extended Abstract
Aims:  In recent decades, contemporary architecture has increasingly shifted toward interdisciplinary and integrative approaches in response to profound cultural, social, and technological transformations. Within this context, the relationship between visual arts and architectural space has gained renewed attention and has moved beyond a purely decorative association. Painting, as one of the most fundamental and enduring branches of the visual arts, has long been intertwined with architecture; however, its role and position in contemporary architectural practice have undergone significant conceptual and functional changes. In many recent examples, painting is no longer treated as an applied or secondary element but rather as an integral part of spatial organization and architectural expression. Through visual components such as line, color, and form, painting has the potential to enrich users’ spatial experiences and contribute to the formation of spatial identity. When these elements are consciously and purposefully integrated into the design process, they can generate multiple layers of meaning, enhance spatial legibility, and strengthen sensory and perceptual engagement. From this perspective, space is no longer perceived merely as a physical container, but as a meaningful, experience-oriented environment capable of fostering deeper emotional and perceptual connections between people and their surroundings. Accordingly, painting can play an active role in shaping spatial quality and users’ lived experience.Despite these capacities, the role of painting in contemporary architecture has often been addressed in a fragmented and case-specific manner, and it has rarely been examined systematically as an influential factor in the design process and the production of spatial identity. This research gap highlights the need to reconsider the position of painting within architectural discourse and raises a central question: how can painting move beyond purely aesthetic functions to become an effective agent in shaping the spatial identity of contemporary architecture?
The aim of this study is to provide an analytical re-reading of the role of painting in contemporary architecture and to examine its impact on spatial experience and architectural identity. By focusing on selected contemporary architectural examples, the study analyzes how painterly elements are employed and explores their spatial and perceptual consequences. This approach seeks to offer a deeper understanding of the potential of painting within contemporary architectural design processes and to contribute to redefining the boundary between visual arts and spatial design.
Materials & Methods:  The present study adopts a qualitative–analytical approach with an interdisciplinary perspective to examine the role and significance of painting in contemporary architecture. The main objective of the research is to explain how painting influences visual qualities, spatial identity, and users’ perceptual experiences within architectural spaces. The qualitative–analytical framework enables an in-depth understanding of complex artistic concepts and the interaction between painting and architecture, while allowing for the integrated analysis of theoretical texts, images, and visual data. In the initial stage, the theoretical framework of the study was developed through a review of scholarly sources, specialized literature, and relevant theoretical perspectives. Subsequently, samples of contemporary architectural projects in which painting was employed as an influential element were selected based on specific criteria, including visual impact, the capacity to create spatial identity, and diversity in the application of painting. Research data were collected using multiple tools, such as documentary studies, case study analysis, semi-structured interviews with architects, interior designers, and art researchers, as well as visual content analysis of project images. Qualitative content analysis was employed as the primary data analysis method, involving processes such as initial coding, conceptual categorization, and the identification of key themes and patterns. Visual analysis of the images, focusing on elements such as color, form, composition, and spatial structure, revealed the role of painting in enhancing architectural aesthetics and shaping spatial identity. Finally, the findings were integrated with previous studies and the theoretical framework to present a comprehensive, multidimensional, and coherent understanding of the impact of painting in contemporary architecture. The statistical population of the study includes contemporary architectural projects from 2000 to 2025, and purposive sampling was applied.
Findings: Painting, as a branch of visual arts, has long interacted with architecture and has gained an interdisciplinary role in contemporary Iranian architecture that goes beyond mere decoration. The present study aims to examine the role of painting in shaping spatial identity, enhancing visual experience, and conveying cultural–symbolic narratives in contemporary Iranian architecture. The main hypothesis of the research is that painting, through the conscious use of color, form, and cultural motifs, can act as a decisive factor in enriching spatial quality, strengthening users’ sense of belonging, and preserving cultural identity. Accordingly, three significant contemporary architectural case studies—Vartan House, the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Nima Yushij House Museum—were selected for analysis. The findings indicate that painting performs distinct yet meaningful roles in each project. In Vartan House, mural paintings inspired by Iranian–Islamic and Armenian traditional motifs function as structural and identity-forming elements, reinforcing the connection between modern architecture and local culture. In the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, paintings interact directly with architectural form, lighting, and spatial organization, playing a crucial role in enhancing visual and functional experience. In the Nima Yushij House Museum, paintings serve as tools of cultural and poetic narration, contributing to the transmission of historical memory and literary identity. Data analysis led to the identification of three main conceptual themes: cultural and spatial identity formation, integration of art and architecture to enhance visual and spatial experience, and artistic and symbolic storytelling in architectural spaces. Overall, the results demonstrate that painting in contemporary Iranian architecture is not merely an aesthetic element, but an active component in producing meaning, identity, and human experience within architectural spaces.
Conclusion:  The analysis of the research themes and sub-themes demonstrates that painting, as an interdisciplinary element, plays a multidimensional and essential role in contemporary architecture. Beyond its decorative function, painting acts as a structural and meaningful component in spatial formation, contributing to the reproduction of cultural identity, the enhancement of spatial experience, and the creation of artistic and symbolic narratives. Although the intensity and mode of manifestation of these themes vary across the case studies, all of them highlight the necessity of conscious attention to painting within the contemporary architectural design process.
In terms of spatial identity, painting contributes to the reinforcement and stabilization of cultural identity through the use of local, symbolic, and historical elements. Regarding spatial and visual experience, the synergy between painting and architecture enhances sensory perception, improves aesthetic quality, and generates deeper and more engaging spaces. Moreover, in the dimension of artistic storytelling, painting functions as a communicative medium through which cultural, social, and personal meanings are conveyed, transforming architectural space from a purely physical environment into a meaningful and interpretive setting. Overall, the findings support the main research hypothesis and indicate that the conscious integration of painting into architectural design can lead to the creation of spaces that simultaneously embody aesthetic, identity-based, and symbolic qualities. From this perspective, reconsidering the position of painting as an integral part of the architectural design process represents an essential requirement within contemporary architectural approaches.

Key words: Painting, contemporary architecture, spatial identity, perceptual experience, spatial organization.