Opinions about reading 1

The Function of Ornament, Moussavi, F. 2006

After reading the introductory pages of this book, it began to become more apparent as to how important ornaments have become within design. There is a specific ornamental element within architecture that allows a connection with design and its culture. Throughout history, there have been a variety of ways to display aesthetics within architecture that correlate with the use of ornamental functions. Throughout the 1600s, Gian Lorenzo Bernini was responsible for the gentrification of Saint Peter’s Square in Rome. He was known for his work that used the theatrical aspects of Baroque design. The ornamental designed displayed throughout his career around Rome helped to strengthen the Roman Catholic Church’s status and power in Europe. The Dawn of Modernism introduced transparency as a new definition of ornamentation. It created a direct representation of architectural elements of space, structure and program.

In modern society, there are an increasing number of ‘blank’ type of buildings (shopping malls, department stores, cineplexes and libraries) that do not need a connection with the outside environment. Therefore an architect’s role has become very focussed on the shell of the building and how it relates to the built environment it is situated in; leaving the interior to be fitted out by other specialised designers. This means that the architects role is now focussed on creating a building that relates and engages in the urban setting it is currently in.

Our society is constantly changing, developing and pushing its potential as to what else there is often questioning the past and how things have been done. “If architecture is to remain convergent with culture, it needs to build mechanisims by which culture can constantly produce new images and concepts rather than recycling existing ones.” That being said, it is important to keep old buildings and methods as a reminder of the origins of the culture and to preserve its traditions. Cultures that have been around for a long time tend to stick to a tradition to ensure that what makes their way of life unique remains. As society changes and adapts, so too does a culture but the essence remains the same.