Ornament and Technology

This course examines contemporary interests in digital fabrication relative to the historically complex relationship between technology and the production of ornament and decoration. The seminar surveys the history of ornament from 1851 to the present in order to identify various, and often conflicting, definitions of the term and to examine a series of diverse case studies. The intention is to outline the potential for digital fabrication to contribute to renewed considerations of the decorative in contemporary architecture, by exploring strategies of figuration, organization, and technique to which these technologies can be readily applied. The course begins with a series of weekly readings, presentations, and case study analyses, and culminates in a final design project and presentation. Limited enrollment.