The Function of Ornament: Second Printing

The Function of Ornament is a graphic guide to ornaments in twentieth-century architecture, exploring how ornament functions as an agent for specific architectural affects. This digital edition is available as a PDF download and can be accessed immediately after purchase.

Edited by Farshid Moussavi and Michael Kubo, the book presents a series of architectural case studies. It challenges conventional views that ornament is merely applied to buildings as a decorative layer.

Book Overview

The Function of Ornament is a graphic guide to ornaments in the twentieth century. It argues that architecture progresses by capturing the forces that shape society as material to work with. Ornament emerges from this process when architectural material is organized to transmit unique affects.

The book documents experiments by architects in constructing unique affects. Each case is discussed over four pages on two double spreads, with the first spread dedicated to affect and the second to material. A section perspective reveals the relationship between material and affect.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• A graphic guide to twentieth-century ornament as a necessary component of architectural expression.
• Drawings by J. Seth Hoffman, Joshua Dannenberg, Raha Talebi, and Fred Holt.
• Case studies including the Seagram headquarters, Ricola Laufen factory, Prada Tokyo store, and 30 St Mary Axe.
• A classification of ornament by depth: Form, Structure, Screen, and Surface.
• Analysis of how buildings use materials such as fins, laser-cut sheets, glass tubes, pleated floor plates, perforated screens, and complex tilings.
• An internal order between ornament and material that produces contemporary yet resilient expressions.

Why This Book Matters

The Function of Ornament addresses a central problem in contemporary architecture: how to give buildings an expression independent from the interior while contributing to the urban setting. The book argues that ornament is not a mask or a decorative addition, but a figure that emerges from the material substrate.

It provides architects, students, and researchers with a clear visual and conceptual framework for understanding how contemporary building expressions can remain connected to culture. The graphic analysis bridges the gap between glossy architectural photography and detailed construction documentation.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital download and no physical item will be shipped. Access is available immediately after purchase.

The PDF is compatible with appropriate Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and standard reading applications.

FAQ

Can I download the book instantly?
Yes, this is a digital download and access is available immediately after purchase.

Will I receive a physical copy?
No, this is a digital PDF product and no physical copy will be shipped.

What devices can I use?
The PDF works with Kindle apps, tablets, desktop, mobile, and standard reading software.

Start reading The Function of Ornament today and explore how ornament creates architectural affect.

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