Theory of architecture paper. 10 pages essay, double spaced

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Maria Adalgisa Cannavo V.

10/08/2020

ARCD 401-01

Professor: Steven I, Doctors.

Theme: Ornament and Precision

According to the definition of this two words; Ornament is an accessory, article, or detail

used to beautify the appearance of something, and precision is the act, the quality, or the fact of

being exact and accurate. In architecture when we talk about ornaments we usually think about

the past, the history of architecture, the details of the buildings we have studied, and the people

who their work was to make every ornamentation by hand. Today, we don’t think about

ornamentation in the modern world, throughout the years at USF I’ve realized that the topic is

usually used as a controversial topic to create discussions, and why is that? I believe is because

of the power that ornaments can have. For me, an ornament can totally change the meaning of a

design, deliver different messages, change moods, and give either positive or negatives details to

any design which connects to the topic of language as a way of expression.

As we deeply look into ornamentation, On Saglam’s reading, Re-thinking the Concept of

‘Ornament’ in Architectural Design. The author seems to look at the use of Ornaments as an

architectural need of aesthetically add decorations to the architects designs, in order to seek

beauty. It reminded me to last week’s reading on Utopia. My thoughts on the topic were that

'Utopia cannot exist without dystopia’ and I think that the same happens with Ornaments,

whether we like it or not, ornaments have changed over time and they are always going to be part

of architecture.

On Sullivan’s reading, Ornament in Architecture, the author brought me the idea that

Ornamentation represented the different societies and time periods through the years. Through

ornamentation architects differentiate a Gothic building, from a Baroque design, or Roman

architecture from the Byzantine, and that shows the beauty of these specific elements. I ask

myself why is that? I truly believe that though ornamentation, architects get the ideas of how

society used to be at that specific time/place, Understand the past cultures, religions, traditions,

etc. However, as I have said in past discussions, It all comes down to human society shifting

over time based on our needs as humans. The same happens with ornamentation becoming less

obvious as a result of social progress, and the purpose we give ornamentation to satisfy our

needs.

Before the modern architecture, ornamentation was used to show people’s social status

and over time that has disappear. Right now, the use of ornamentation in addition to a building’s

design is very rare. The act of decorating the outside structure of a building have shifted to the

inside. On Carpo’s reading, Excessive Resolution: From Digital Streamlining to Computational

Complexity. He talks more about it, and agrees that modern architecture have pushed

ornamentation to be more specific and from the personal taste. As you go into someone’s place

you can understand their taste throughout their chosen decoration. Nowadays, spaces are created

just for the purpose of exposing ornamentation. If we think about the purpose of art galleries, we

just go to these places and if we really like anything from the exposition, we buy it and we hang

it in our homes or we even buy some of them online. As the production of ornaments have

shifted to machine-made pieces and 3D printed forms, Carpo explained that it makes ornaments

easier to get in all demographics at a cheaper price which slowly changes its full idea of the

expensive/handmade piece.

After looking at how ornamentation have changed, it made me understand why people

argue that in the past, Ornamentation had a sentimental value, but I believe that it will keep

changing over time as modern technology develops. For me, it doesn’t have to lose the

sentimental value, In the contrary, I believe that by shifting the whole idea of ornamentation it let

us enjoy more what is in the streets vs inside of our homes. We also seek for the artists that are

out in the streets, architecture, and having the apprehension of not knowing what you can find as

ornamentation. Through modern architecture, we realize how ornamentation is viewed from a

different perspective rather than sticking to the architectural history, which made me realize how

powerful the use of ornamentation can be used in the architects design.