Ornament & Crime: Architecture + the Modern Struggle

"The evolution of culture is synonymous with the removal of ornament from objects of daily use."
These are the pivotal words from the essay "Ornament and Crime", written in 1910 by the Viennese architect and cultural critic Adolf Loos. Arguably one of the most influential pieces of architectural writing in the 20th century, this essay calls into question the very morality of ornament; specifically the way in which it was utilized by Loos’s contemporaries. This landmark text framed the modern struggle between utilitarian efficiency and cultural relevance, paving the way for modernist movements like Bauhaus and the International Style.
… But 100 years after the fact, where do contemporary schools of thought stand on questions of ornamentation, materiality, and historical relevance? What do today’s buildings tell us about our values as a society? And what does this mean for those of us living in a city in transition, like Yerevan?
Come Loos-en up with us on Tuesday, April 12th as we gather for the third episode of let's talk, where we get together for an open discussion over an interesting text from a 20th century thinker in one of Yerevan's cafés and say what’s on our minds. The Yerevan UnderBelly will give a short presentation to introduce the text and then the forum will be open for discussion. The working language of this event is English.