Ornament in Architecture: Lost, Found, and Looking Ahead
17 October 2025 by Andrew Pizzey
We often describe buildings in terms of how they function: how they flow, how they perform, how they "work." But what about how they make us feel?
In many of our towns and cities, there is a noticeable visual quietness. Plain façades, muted colours, minimal detail. Ornament, once a defining part of architecture, has largely disappeared. But is it gone for good?
As part of my recent university studies, I explored how British architectural ornament has changed over time, from proudly decorative ‘Arts and Crafts’ to almost entirely absent ‘Modernism’, and why now might be the moment for its thoughtful return.
What Do We Mean by 'Ornament'?
For this reflection, ornamentation is defined as any non-structural element or mass added after the main structure and its weatherproofing envelope are complete. In other words, it is the part of architecture that goes beyond function to elevate, enrich, or express.
Think of decorative brick patterns, stone window surrounds, or timber detailing in gables and eaves. These touches do not always hold a building up, but they do add character, identity, and joy.
From Craft to Clean Lines
Historically, ornament was everywhere. Georgian and Victorian buildings were full of detail: cornices, patterned brickwork, iron railings, carved stone. These were not just embellishments; they were craftsmanship, pride, and storytelling.
But the 20th century brought radical change. Modernist architects, inspired by thinkers like Adolf Loos, stripped buildings back to essentials. Ornament was labelled outdated, excessive, even dishonest. Post-war rebuilding and limited budgets made plainness the new norm.
Why It Faded
The decline was not just about cost. It was cultural too. Simplicity came to be seen as honest and democratic, while decoration felt fussy or elitist. This shift gave us some wonderful clarity in design, but often at the expense of warmth and individuality.
Today, you can stand on a street in almost any city and see the same blank façades made up of repetitive steel and glass, the same grey palettes. Too often, a sense of place is lost.
Sign of Return
Ornament is making a quiet comeback. Not as fussy decoration, but through thoughtful gestures: A brick laid in a diYerent bond to catch the light, subtle timber cladding that echoes local traditions, Coloured window frames that lift an otherwise muted façade.
Designing for Meaning, Not Just Function
The lesson is simple: ornament does not have to mean indulgence. It can be quiet, modern, and full of care. Even small details, such as the curve of a corner, a patterned tile, or a crafted handle, can lift a building from functional to meaningful.
Maybe “less is more,” as Mies van der Rohe said. But sometimes, a little more is exactly what is needed.
Or as Frank Lloyd Wright put it: “Less is more... only when more is too much.”