In an urban context - there is an increasing need to find adequate architectural responses to urban challenges, where tourism and the experience economy are in focus. New architectural concepts are looking away from modernism's strong attachment to ‘form and function’ towards ‘the sensual and the narrative’.
In large prestige projects you often see that new expressive architecture is coupled with old industrial buildings in order to create strong stories about a future; similar art installations and temporary architecture are emerging providing the audience with spatial experiences questioning the way we are using urban spaces and interact in every day city life.

This article presents concepts of performative architecture and urban scenography. It draws lines back to the artistic and architectural avant-garde in the 1960s. The aim is to evaluate the phenomenon of aesthetic experience in the urban environment and to look at the artistic methods and architectural tools that are involved in large art installations today.

The article pays special attention to the use of temporary architecture in relation to festivals and events. It is an allegation that the temporary architecture provides a special freedom to construct spatial situations that promote an experimental life. Through symbols, ornaments and decorations it is possible create recognizable urban environments in which people can orient themselves, but also experience an aesthetically and bodily challenging environment.
Through ‘constructed situations’ and grotesque aesthetics of temporary architectural design it is possible to create cross-border experiences. The thesis is that it may contribute to reflection and provide new demands to the performance of our urban environments in general.