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Farshid Moussavi
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The Function of Ornament Paperback – January 1, 2007

4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 21 ratings
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Architecture needs mechanisms that allow it to become connected to culture. It achieves this by continually capturing the forces that shape society as material to work with. Architecture's materiality is therefore a composite one, made up of visible forces (structural, functional, physical) as well as invisible forces (cultural, political, temporal). Architecture progresses through new concepts that connect with these forces, manifesting itself in new aesthetic compositions and affects. Ornament is the by-product of this process, through which architectural material is organized to transmit unique affects. This book is a graphic guide to ornaments in the twentieth century. It unveils the function of ornament as the agent for specific affects, dismantling the idea that ornament is applied to buildings as a discrete or non-essential entity. Each case operates through greater or lesser depth to exploit specific synergies between the exterior and the interior, constructing an internal orde
Previous page
  1. Print length
    192 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    EDITORIAL ACTAR
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2007
  5. Dimensions
    6.75 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    8496540502
  7. ISBN-13
    978-8496540507
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

This book represents a return to architectural research as drawing. If it's a harbinger for 2007, I'm excited to see what else Actar and whoever else dares to draw can come up with. --Archinect

The Function of Ornament is a primer for the digital age, with Foreign Office Architects Farshid Moussavi demonstrating how the computer is as fine a form generator as any pattern book. --Wallpaper Magazine

-- A remarkable array of forms. --Metropolis Magazine

Undeniably powerful. -- Architect's Journal

A compelling study of affect manifest in clearly presented case studies with savy representations of various architectural techniques. --Documents

A thoroughly and beautifully illustrated book that gives a broad overview of the various affects achieved by mostly contemporary buildings. --Archidose

A thoroughly and beautifully illustrated book that gives a broad overview of the various affects achieved by mostly contemporary buildings. --Archidose

The impressive array of diagrams are extremely clear and useful... If you are looking for component and systems analysis of projects such as Future Systems' amorphous Selfridges Department Store or Herzog and de Meuron's embossed copper skin at the De Young Museum; look no further. --Death By Architecture

A thoroughly and beautifully illustrated book that gives a broad overview of the various affects achieved by mostly contemporary buildings. --Archidose

The impressive array of diagrams are extremely clear and useful... If you are looking for component and systems analysis of projects such as Future Systems' amorphous Selfridges Department Store or Herzog and de Meuron's embossed copper skin at the De Young Museum; look no further. --Death By Architecture

Book Description

Una guía gráfica sobre el uso de la ornamentación en la arquitectura del siglo XX.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ EDITORIAL ACTAR (January 1, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8496540502
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8496540507
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.75 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 21 ratings

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Farshid Moussavi

Farshid Moussavi

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Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
21 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

AB
5.0 out of 5 stars Ornament redefined...
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2010
Verified Purchase
I purchased this book after a fellow colleague recommended it to me and I must say it's become one of my favorite books because of its explicit and clear way of explaining the concepts of the buildings selected. All architecture books should be written this way. Farshid did a great job of validating her standpoint of ornament... A concept that has been re-defined in this book.
2 people found this helpful
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Fred de Ket
5.0 out of 5 stars Great bible of ornament and skin solutions
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2010
Verified Purchase
An amazing book showing details on how to make several ornaments on your building with up-to-date examples.

Don't expect a theory novel, but a graphic and schematic summation of different design possibilities for ornamenting buildings.
One person found this helpful
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abc
3.0 out of 5 stars Basically the only function is "EFFECT" and that's what the whole book pretty much talks about very nice drawings though and dia
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2015
Verified Purchase
There isn't any perceived function of ornament..
Basically the only function is "EFFECT" and that's what the whole book pretty much talks about
very nice drawings though and diagrams.
But the thesis is a bit meh..or rather just not very profound.
A person who should write a book like this is either REM or Bjarke Ingels
One person found this helpful
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Charles Crawford
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Case Studies
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2008
Verified Purchase
Beautiful and useful; as a Professor of Architecture I will be recommending this volume to all of my students.
2 people found this helpful
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Emcee
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice presentation of some innovative architectural systems
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2007
In this graphic guide to building ornamentation in the twentieth century, Moussavi and Kubo have collected an interesting cross-section of architectural projects that demonstrate the mechanisms through which contemporary architecture connects itself to current culture.

Through the selected case study projects, the editors endeavor to illustrate the means through which ornamentation is the very essence of the building. Not being merely 'ornamental' and self-indulgent, the articulation presented is indeed the agent of the architect's ideas.

Various materials and effects are investigated ranging from 'dematerialized light' to 'relief patterns'. The impressive array of diagrams are extremely clear and useful. A typical system is defined through perspective views, sections, pattern diagrams, detailed assembly drawings and relevant notes.

If you are looking for component and systems analysis of projects such as Future Systems' amorphous Selfridges Department Store or Herzog and de Meuron's embossed copper skin at the De Young Museum; look no further.
13 people found this helpful
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Joongwon Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars Nicely put together
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2010
I guess, to me at least, the title of the book is bit misleading,
it should be "how to make an interesting building skins"
Because this book provides ample examples of great building skins of
contemporary (some past) architecture.

Graphics, analysis, and categorization are the 3 strong points of the book.
Each example is analyzed in the order of following:

1. elements (typically material)
2. key design concept
3. organization and assembly of key building skin
4. overall effect

For example, for Laban Dance Center by Herzog de Meuron, three different
colors and glasses are introduced, how they are used according to the program
inside, how the glasses are put together as double-layer enclosure, and
the daytime/ nighttime effects are analyzed.

The book speaks with graphics, limiting the number of words used.
The graphics were painstakingly achieved. Really delivering the message
clearly and concisely. Hence, essence of the project concept is easily
graspable, yet, at the same time, being graphics, it leaves room for
subjective interpretation.
4 people found this helpful
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B. Brolin
1.0 out of 5 stars Limited view
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2008
Verified Purchase
The title suggests that this book is about architectural ornament, but it really covers only an extremely limited, and not particularly interesting, part of that rich topic.
One person found this helpful
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DVD
1.0 out of 5 stars Not a great title
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2011
I was disappointed by the unappealing diagrams of some of the most interesting buildings in 20th century architecture. The content is certainly not as revolutionary as the title advertises. In my opinion one can find better surveys of building envelopes and better descriptions of the buildings analyzed elsewhere.
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Top reviews from other countries

Jose
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2013
Verified Purchase
I like and find this book very usefull for architects. It seems to me a good buy for the people interested in architecture
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