Theory of architecture paper. 10 pages essay, double spaced
Maisha
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.