Publication: Restoring Human-Centered Interior Design through the Vernacular Language of Ornamentation
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Type
Thesis
Degree
MA
Date
2025
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Abstract
This thesis argues for the potential of ornamentation to restore human-centered design within contemporary interiors. It begins with the description of industrialization and modernist ideology that have replaced handmade qualities which are historically rooted in unique cultures which lead to a loss of beauty, identity, and emotional connection in the built environment. With the theories of Christopher Alexander, Christian Norberg-Schulz, and Peter Zumthor, the research sheds new light on the relationship between people, places, and design, ultimately emphasizing perception, beauty, and the genius loci as fundamental parts of meaningful spaces. Furthermore, two case studies, Adolf Loos's Villa Müller and Petra Blaisse's Casa da Música, illustrate the contrasting effects ornamentation has on human experience. This builds the foundation for the introduction of aemulatio as design strategy that connects tradition and modernity by transforming imitation into innovation. Instead of rejecting history, the concept of aemulatio allows ornament to evolve organically which enriches spaces in the sense of complexity and cultural continuity. Finally, the design project applies this principle to the interior of an Alpine farmhouse and therefore demonstrates how vernacular ornamentation can coexist with contemporary needs. In summary, the work argues that ornamentation is not an aesthetic excess but a living language that reconnects human beings with their environment through beauty, memory, and wholeness.
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Keywords
Ornamentation / Tradition / Vernacular / Beauty / Identity / Genius Loci / Spirit of Place / Memory / Wholeness / Living