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Evolution of Architectural Ornamentation A comparison between ancient and

modern era(1900-2020)

Research Proposal · October 2020

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.31763.09764

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Arushi Garg
CEPT University
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 Evolution of Architectural Ornamentation
A comparison between ancient and modern era(1900-2020)

Introduction

The main aim of the study is to analyze the basic concept of ornamentation. Ornamentation
being a considerable part of the architecture has drastically evolved in the last few years. The
ornament has traditionally been considered as a substantial precedent. The presence of
ornamentation and its use were very evident until the early 20th century.

From the perspective of the twenty-first century, a relation between ancient precedents,
technology, materiality, and global society comes into focus that suggests a new direction in
the development of ornament within contemporary design.

The literature review explored ornamentation to understand its relationship with the modern
age.

Statement of Proposal

In the modern era, architects and designers have adopted different approaches towards
addressing a design problem which has somehow replaced the ancient approaches. A program
that consists of special division, proximity, scale, form, and other physical attributes that affect
the functioning of the space. Hence became the reason for the introduction of modern
techniques which is now considered to be absolute.

The paper is mainly read by people from design and architectural fields, practicing architects,
people who are working on similar research papers, and professors with a similar field of
interest.

Literature Review

Delineation of ornamentation

Whenever the work ornamentation comes there is a preconceived notion that ornamentation is
something that refers to decoration or something that pleases the eyes. Ornamentation was
considered as a process of adding something that enhances the aesthetic characteristics of
the space which is also true for the modern era but both the eras have a very different approach
towards dealing with the same.

Earlier the depth and clarity of motifs and symbols were commonly used in every culture and
hence became an integral part of the structure where it was not only limited to cultural aspects
but the types and depth of the ornamentation also involved social and political aspects.
At the end of the nineteenth century, people explored the meaning of ornamentation in theories
and via practices. In 1878 the Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi wrote in his journal words which
represents the extent of his exploration:

To be interesting, ornamentation should represent objects that remind us of specific ideas, and
that constitute motifs. Such motifs are historical, legendary, representing deeds, emblems,
fables—regarding man and his life, actions, and passions (Gaudi, 1973, p. 19). Before this period
of the Modern Age, (1890-1940), ornamentation had developed from substantial precedent
where there was no dominant evolution in works and the mindset of people. After a certain
point, ornament began to lose its importance.

The reason why the modern age is of particular interest in any exploration related to
ornamentation is because of the shifts in the paradigm of decoration. The importance of
ornamentation in the Modern era began to decline due to many socio, economic and other
concerns. The ornamentation suddenly disappeared in the modern era. It was done more with
the understanding of the ornamentation of the twenty-first century which was yet to be explored
in all directions.

The shift in the approach in the modern era

In the modern age, there were new approaches developed to address the design problems
taking into consideration particular design rules that were far away from ancient precedents.
These new approaches towards design, they replaced the authority of antiquity with the notion
of design that they were trying to develop. Accordingly, they were working on spatial
requirements and conditions that were necessary as they were controlling the output of the
spaces. Later, the Program became the primary governing factor for the designers to look upon.

Architecture and ornamentation

The main idea during the industrial revolution was to develop the idea of ornamentation where
architecture and ornament were interdependent as part of the whole structure. During the
industrial revolution, with new technological enhancements to iron, architecture became
focused on the structure of the building as separate from the exterior facade. The
ornamentation was no longer viewed as an inherent part of the structure whereas the structure
of the building became a part of ornamentation too.
Later, the relationship between structure and ornamentation had considerably influenced the
perception and principles of ornament. Later, it got connected with the contemporary approach
to design in the modern era which has further driven the process towards evolution.

Need leading to the evolution

In the modern age at the beginning of the twentieth-century designers look away from
substantial precedent to develop a new rational and a logical approach to design. At this time,
ornament lost its connection to “traditional social norms and rituals, symbolism, metaphorical,
structural and ornamental systems, and transcendental meanings that characterize classically
and other eclectic styles.

The need to create a system for organizing principles of the ornament soon came into
realization. Principles are crucial to a contemporary view of ornament because they work to
give a generalized method that can help to understand ornamentation.

Another major factor was the economical aspect. Different people are living in a society with
different economical backgrounds and again there was a need to create a system which suits
all the sections of society. Later, complexity can be added in terms of structure or material to
bring in some difference.

Technology and Ornamentation

Ornamentation can also be considered as a witness to the technological progress. The

advanced programs such as computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing have
somehow insisted architects and designers make the designs more complex by introducing
patterns, textures, colors.

All the aspects were also taken forward in 2 different ways where 1 is 2D which can be depicted
by perforations, voids, and transparency. All these techniques include pattern, repetition, and
the attributes of the material used, along with the technology like laser-cut, CNC mining, and 3D
printing.

Another is 3- dimension and the technology has also led to the introduction of another typology
that is parametric design. Innovation in techniques complementing the complex structure of
design has ultimately led to the introduction of ornamentation in an indirect manner that is
through light, patterns, and repetition.

While considering 1 aspect in parametric design which is the pattern that has a strong impact
on the design and also has led to a dynamic form of ornamentation, there are other factors also
that include material, structure, and assembly.

Aesthetics and Ornamentation

It is basically a combination of al 4 aspects that are pattern, symmetry, color, and 2D/3D
incarnation which are supported by technological processes and has led to the mass
production of various elements and also a system of components which is possible in advance
material options which also allows flexibility and sustainability in design. it also affects the
economic factor as the usage of technology and the advancement of materials have increased
the durability of the whole system.

Sustainability and ornamentation

Along with the advancement, new methods and approaches have also been developed that are
mainly focusing on the reduction of the energy use of the building which is done by introducing
various systems to recycle the waste while maintaining the ornamental value of the space
which is done by one the very famous architect of mid-’90s who is Friedensreich
Hundertwasser.

Another parameter is sustainability in terms of material and its usage. The introduction of
modular designs has made a great shift towards sustainability. It has led to the ease in
installation, mass manufacturing, and is less time-consuming. Also, if a part is damaged then
only the part will be replaced and the remaining part will remain the same.

Ornamentation as process

Mainly there were two objectives for this study, where the first is to explore ornament and
another is to develop a framework for understanding the design of ornamentation in the twenty-
first century. At the end of this process, the final value of the study the emergence of ornament
as a process.

Ornamentation is a process that reveals a framework for a systematic approach and application
in design. The view has developed the insight into not only historic precedent but also a way in
which to create new forms from the smallest ornamental unit to an overall building mass.

Ornamentation can be one of the major guiding factors that have majorly affected the form,
space planning, orientation, and other aspects of the buildings.

Form as ornament

From is the framework of the language of ornamentation. There are works of contemporary
architects such as Frank Gehry which can be interpreted for their use of ornament. In the early
twentieth century, the Bauhaus created a simplified ornamental unit to the rectangle and at the
beginning of the twenty-first century, the ornamental unit has been abstracted into a complex
form with the use of all the resources available. These forms are highly dependent on materiality
and technology, which has helped to form a connection contemporary world. For instance, The
Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles is one of the finest examples of
ornamentation where technology and materiality come into play.

Methodology

The purpose of the paper is to bring together various points of view of different designers and
architects of different eras who have a major contribution to the evolution of ornamentation. A
comparative study is done considering all the critical analysis done by different people in their
time.
The main topic for the proposal is the evolution of ornamentation in architecture is mainly
studied in 2 different parts where is done by analyzing the ancient approach towards
ornamentation where different case studies on historical buildings were analyzed and the books
and articles that were available were also considered.

A similar approach is also adopted to analyze the modern approach, but the major difference
that was there was in the clarity and quantity of content available. Then comparison was done
based on research which included all the parameters that have led to the evolution

Another part was the factors that have led and leading towards ornamentation which was also
analyzed considering different physical attributes.
Scope and Limitation

Structure in one aspect that is studied in the paper. There are other elements of space also that
can be derived from ornamentation and created a language in the space. There is a limitation
in the availability of content from our past. But a lot of detailed studies are done on modern
architecture which can help us to take the study one step further. Technology and sustainability
can be studied more in-depth because even if it is named as modern architecture when it is
simplified it will become a part of ornamentation only.

Conclusion

Our understanding of ornament has traditionally been based on a preconceived notion of the
basic definition of ornamentation where the mind is not able to think beyond that in the first
instance.

In the early twentieth century, the Bauhaus kept the notion on one side and began to develop a
logical system and approach towards design. By the end of the twentieth century,
postmodernism reintroduced another definition of ornamentation in the context of technology
and society where there are different people with different living conditions.

From the perspective of the twenty-first century, a relation has been set up among ancient
ideology and principles, technology, and materiality. Thus, this perspective provokes further
work and explores a new direction in the development of ornament within contemporary design.

Forms of ornamentation have a different meaning in different eras as it is the tool for expression
that testifies technology and science, the evolution of people and civilization, change in culture
and believes, socio and economic conditions. All the factors have led to an evolution in
ornamentation.

Bibliography

Ahani, F. (1999). Criticism of Modern Literature Generally. Journal of Modern Literature,

22(3), 461-468. doi:10.1353/jml.1999.0022

Brett, D. (1988). The Interpretation of Ornament. Journal of Design History, 1(2), 103-111.
Retrieved September 28, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1315890

Gaudí, Antoni. (1973). Ornamentation. New York. Wittenborn, VIA 2.

Jespersen, J. K. (2007). Originality and Jones' the grammar of ornament of 1856. Journal of
Design History, 21(2), 143-153. https://doi.org/10.1093/jdh/epn008

Loos, A. (2016). Ornament and crime. Design: Critical and Primary Sources, 12.
https://doi.org/10.5040/9781474282857.0011
 Parker, D., & Wood, A. (2013). The tall buildings reference book. Routledge.

Pontius, D., & Brown, N. C. (2003). Ornament as narrative: A framework for reading ornament in the
twenty-first century. Pullman, WA: Washington State University.

Van Zanten, David. (1977). Architectural Ornament: On, In, And Through The Wall.

VIA.3. Graduate School of Fine Arts. University of Pennsylvania

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