Manifestations of Nature as Ornament in Contemporary Architecture

Abstract

This paper seeks to explore the evolving role of nature as ornamentation in architecture. Historically, natural elements have been represented in construction for aesthetic and symbolic reasons, as seen in Egyptian lotus capitals or Assyrian reliefs. In the contemporary context, however, rather than being directly represented, nature appears to be employed in two other ways. One is through the emulation of natural processes or behaviors, known as biomimetic design. The other is through the integration of vegetation into buildings via built-in planters or green cladding. The ornamental aspects of both approaches emerge from the current understanding of ornament, which today is interpreted largely as a performative element integral to a building’s genesis, often blurring the line between structure and embellishment.

Within this framework, the incorporation of nature into design offers environmental benefits that help mitigate the human impact on habitats while it simultaneously serves as ornamentation, reconnecting people with nature and conveying a message of environmental responsibility. While green architecture stems from a moral imperative for sustainability, it concurrently communicates this ethos through its design.

In this light, this paper argues that the traditional representation of nature has been transformed into biomimetic design and the direct integration of vegetation, both functioning as ornamentation. The study examines the motivations behind this shift, its implications, and how it reflects a biophilic ethos and environmental concern. Although nature in contemporary architecture is extensively studied, its role as an ornamentat remains relatively underexplored. Thus, this paper aims to take a step toward bridging this gap in the architectural discourse.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20365/disegnarecon.33.2024.11