ORNAMENTATION
Ornament. In dictionary, ornament is a thing that enhanced something look
more attractive and usually having no practical purpose. But in my own way to
look at ornament perhaps the most distinguishing aspect of ornament is its
function as symbol but it deeply contains the myths and beliefs that define
culture and even that ornament symbolize that time’s era/epoch, it is both a
construction of meaning and an enabler of the construction of meaning. Ornament
may not make a huge contribute physically, let us call this its “physical”
function, but it gave function in a mentally way or even spiritually which
plays important role in architecture field nowadays.
Ornamentation in architecture, defined as any
element added to an structural form, usually for the purposes of embellishment
or decoration. The forms of ornament have certain definite meanings or symbolic
significance. Applied ornament, intended to add beauty to a structure but
extrinsic to it which means without any practical function towards the
structure.
In architecture, the oranament
is a decoration used to embellish and beautify a part of the building. Ornament
may represent the status of the building like power and wealthy. The ornament
in architecture then differ from cotemporary ornament, it was only used on a
certain part of the building. However, ornament nowadays can include the whole
massing of the building. Does ornament equals to crime? I don't think so.
Contemporary architecture often use ornament. Even the building's shape
is a form of ornamentation. Contemporary ornaments are becoming a general
feature of envelopes. Building as a ornament is more on icongraphy. For
example, iconographic buildings' form made up with interesting shapes such as
waves, lotus, rock and more.
In 1913, Ornament has been
declared by Architect Adolf Loos as a “crime”, because of its wasted
labor, wasted health and wasted materials and he concluded that “no ornament
can any longer be made by today by anyone who lives on our cultural level…
Freedom from ornament is a sign of spiritual strength”.
Even the contemporary
architecture in 21st century tend to follow the philosophy “Less is more” by Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe. He
created an influential twentieth-century architectural style, stated with
extreme clarity and simplicity. He strove toward an architecture with a
minimal framework of structural order balanced against the implied freedom of
unobstructed free-flowing open space. He called his buildings "skin and
bones" architecture.
Barcelona pavillion, designed by miss van der rohe
Is this building contain
ornamentation ? YES
The Sculpture itself is ornament which place where these optical
effects would have strong impact and is indispensable for the building.
So, is the contemporary
architecture still apply ornament? Yes
But is the ornament being functional or just for aesthetic effect without
any meaning?
Figure 1
Figure 1.1
From the project (Figure 1 & 1.1) Tori Tori Restaurant by
Architects Rojkind Arquitectos +ESRAWE Studio at
Polanco, Mexico City. As we can see the facede as the ornament which
emerge from the ground climbing up through the building. It made up by two
self-supporting layers of steel plates cut with CNC machine & handcrafted to
exact specifications. The facade pattern responds to the inside openings,
filtering light, shadows, and views that will constantly invade the interior
spaces. The result that ornament in contemporary architecture has make
responsible towards the technology, culture and environment..
Figure 2
Figure 2.1
Another example from
Project(Figure 2 & 2.1) by Architect Studio 505,Wintergarden shopping centre
facade located at Brisbane, Australia. “The Wintergarden Façade is a
radically experiential composition, a complex and beautiful study of nature,
geometry and layering that communicates the rich diversity of life”. This as a
result that the ornament has respond to the environment and the human feeling.
JOSEPH RYKWERT
From the
philosophical text by Joseph Rykwert can be considered as one of the main
contributors towards the critical analysis of Modern and contemporary
architecture and design history, proposing a perspective sensibly related to a
rational and relatively traditionalist point of view.
In my opinion, instead of label ornamentation as
a crime, there is still the value for its exist. Therefore, I agree with Joseph
Rykwert statement on philosophical text that “ornament is no crime”.
But still, I don’t agree with the statement that the “unacceptable” construction should be cover with ornament. Either the
building has apply with ornament or not, there should have MEANING behind every
building. There is no right or wrong for ornament to apply in contemporary
architecture, just that should consider about the technology, culture, economic
and environment.
REFERENCE