Style and ornamentation in Architecture

Brief Introduction to style and Ornamentation

1. ORNAMENTATION, CHARACTER AND
STYLE.

2. Pantheon Rome

3. ORNAMENTATION

4. WHAT IS ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENTATION?
In architecture, Ornamentation is used to make part of the building or object
more attractive by the addition of decorative details or features.
Architectural ornament can be carved from stone, wood or precious metals,
formed with plaster or clay, or painted or impressed onto a surface as applied
ornament.
Ornamentation often seen around the openings like around the doorway, around
the window, at pediments or near the eave of roof.
Ornament may be flat(simply on the surface), incised(cut
below the surface), or in relief (raised above the surface ).
The vast range of motifs used in ornament draw from geometrical shapes and
patterns, plants, and human and animal figures.
most ornament does not include human figures, and if present they are small
compared to the overall scale.
Architectural historian Sir John Summersoncalled Ornamentation as
"surface modulation"

5. •Styles of ornamentation can be studied in reference to the specificculturewhich developed unique forms of
decoration, or modified ornament from other cultures.
•TheAncient Egyptianculture is arguably the first civilization to add pure decoration to their buildings. Their ornament
takes the forms of the natural world in that climate, decorating the capitals of columns and walls with images of
papyrus and palm trees.
•Assyrianculture produced ornament which shows influence from Egyptian sources and a number of original themes,
including figures of plants and animals of the region
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENTATION?

6. •Three basic and fairly distinct categories of Ornamentation may be recognized:
•Depending on the placement of the ornamentation it is characterised as
•Surface ornaments-carving and painting on the walls
•Edge Ornaments-example Antefix
•Junction Ornaments-example-Cornice and Frieze
•Depending on Type of expression Ornaments characterised as:
•Mimetic or imitative ornament
•Applied ornament
•Structural Ornamentation.
TYPES OF ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENTATION?

7. •Mimetic, or imitative ornament-the forms of which have certain definite meanings or symbolic significance;
here reproduce shapes and qualities familiar from past usage in new material by using new technology.
•Applied ornament-intended to add beauty to a structure but extrinsic to it;. Meant for aesthetic purpose
only.
•ornament in the 19th century exemplified the common tendency for mimetic ornament, in all times and places,
to turn into mere applied decoration, lacking either symbolic meaning or reference to the structure on which it
is placed.
•Example -By the 5th centuryBCEinGreece, the details of the orders had largely lost whatever conscious
symbolic or structural significance they may have had; they became simply decorative elements extrinsic to the
structure
•Structural ornament-inherent in the building’s function or materials.
•by the mid-20th century a concept of architectural ornament had been formulated that has been called structural
ornaments essential principle is that ornament in architecture should derive directly from a function of the
nature of the building and the materials used.
TYPES OF ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENTATION?

8. Imitative ornament-Ornamentation on pediment depicts war.
Imitation of nature and foliage.
Imitative ornament
Corinthian Capital has two rows
of Acanthus ornament

9. Applied ornament

10. Structural ornament

11. Architectural ornament-something added to a building to improve its appearance.
Some examples of ornamentation:
Antefix-carved ornament at the eaves of a tile roof concealing the joints between tiles.
Crocket-an architectural ornament of curved foliage used at the edge of a spire or gable.
Dogtooth-a carved pyramidal ornament; used in 13th century England.
Foliage, foliation-leaf-like architectural ornament.
Greek fret, Greek key, key pattern, fret
-an ornamental pattern consisting of repeated vertical and horizontal lines (often in relief);
"there was a simple fret at the top of the walls".
Frieze-an architectural ornament consisting of a horizontal sculptured band between the
architrave and the cornice.
Guilloche-an architectural decoration formed by two intersecting wavy bands.
Trefoil -an architectural ornament in the form of three arcs arranged in a circle.
Antefix
Trefoil

12. Crocket
Dogtooth
Frieze

13. CHARACTER /STYLE

15. CHARACTER
The character of a building depends upon its capacity to express a particular function and status. All
aesthetic components, such as unity, composition, contrast and scale together make up the character of
a building to evoke a certain visual and psychological response in the user.
• Character also brings out the utility and purpose of a building. It gives an identity to the building
• Whether it is a bank or a church or a library, it should possess an appropriate character. For
instance, the structure of the Bank should be such that it should look massive and represent the
country’s financial stability.
• Character of a building denotes all those qualities which differentiate it from other buildings. It
is the notable feature of a building and describes the purpose of its existence.
• In design, character is obtained not only from the natural or man –made elements but also
from aspects like function, materials and technology of construction.
• The character of the building is reflected in terms of treatment of openings, scale of elements,
proportion of the smaller to the larger units etc.
• Materials based on their intrinsic character or nature is to be used accordingly. Ex: When stone
is used it signifies strength as also long lasting nature. Similarly use of glass denoted fragile character and
one of delicate nature than strength. Materials like wood, steel or brick when used with their natural
finishes can give and enhance the beauty of the structure.

16. •“Every building should have a character –as stated by Le Corbusier” has been universally accepted.
•Architectural character can be divided in to 3 categories:
•Functional Character
•Associated Character
•Personal Character or Individual character

17. •Every building has specific functions and is made for specific broad purpose. The internal planning is in co-
ordination with the exterior facade that tells us the purpose of the building.
•The external appearance plays an important role in determining the purpose and the function of the
structure.
•For example:
•Design of factory building, industrial workshops, the layout of which are dictated purely by a functional aspect.
•Designing a long wall having numerous windows in a particular order can also indicate a museum.
•Designing tall and wide windows suggest a library.
•Designing a symmetrical entrance to a central block having a wide entrance to express balance and rhythm
indicates public buildings
FUNCTIONAL CHARACTER OF A BUILDING

18. ASSOCIATED CHARACTER:
•Associated Character:This character develops from the influence of ideas or impression related to or growing
out of past experience. It is used to recognize a building which has been associated with particular style.
•Cultural aspects play an important role in determining the Associated Character of a particular structure….
•We recognize a building by its features, which we associate with a particular structural style. A spire on a tower
by the side of a spacious building indicates a church. A gopuram depicts a Hindu Temple whereas a crescent and a
white dome is the symbol of a mosque.

19. PERSONAL CHARACTER OR INDIVIDUAL
CHARACTER:
•Characters in architecture is comparable with the attributes of an individual. If a
building is designed in the proper spirit, personal characteristics such as grace, dignity
and vitality can be expressed as an integral part of the structure
•Each architect would express certain character which makes hi/ her own style. Ex:
Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Charles Correa. Character in architecture is
comparable with the attributes of an individual.

20. STYLE

21. •Egyptian Style •Greek Style Roman Style

22. STYLE
•In architectural style is characterized by the features that make a buildingor
other structure notable and historically identifiable.
•A style may include such elements as form, method of construction, building
materials, and regional character.
•Most architecture can be classified as a chronology of styles which changes
over time reflecting changing fashions, beliefs and religions, or the emergence
of new ideas, technology, or materials which make new styles possible.

23. STYLE
•Styles therefore emerge from the history of a society and are documented in the subject of architectural
history. At any time several styles may be fashionable, and when a style changes it usually does so gradually,
as architects learn and adapt to new ideas. Styles often spread to other places, so that the style at its source
continues to develop in new ways while other countries follow with their own twist. A style may also spread
through colonialism, either by foreign colonies learning from their home country, or by settlers moving to a
new land.
•After a style has gone out of fashion, there are often revivals and re-interpretations. For instance, classicism
has been revived many times and found new life as neoclassicism. Each time it is revived, it is different.
•Vernacular architectureworks slightly differently and is listed separately. It is the native method of
construction used by local people, usually using labour-intensive methods and local materials, and usually for
small structures such as rural cottages. It varies from region to region even within a country, and takes little
account of national styles or technology. As western society has developed, vernacular styles have mostly
become outmoded by new technology and national building standards

24. TYPES OF STYLE
Influences on Style are:
• Geography
• Climate
• Materials available
• Religion and tradition
• Construction Techniques
• Function
Usually repetition of features like columns, courtyards, ornaments openings etc. is seen. Roof treatments, façade
treatments all are repeated in a similar fashion in a particular area and time.
Types of Style:
• Based on place –Egyptian, Roman, Greek etc.
• Based on religion -Dravidian style, OrissanStyle, Vijayanagar Style
• Based on Structural techniques -Egyptian and Greek: Trabeatedsystem
Roman: Arquatedsystem
Gothic: Flying buttress
Early Christian: Pendentives

25. •Egyptian Style •Greek Style Roman Style
Based on place
Dravidianstyle
Vijayanagarstyle
Basedonreligion:
Based on structural techniques:
Flyingbuttress