VMC gargouilles

The Ghost Dog study office here displays ventilation systems designed for the roofs and façades of our buildings. Connected to network elements, these sculptures function as air intakes or outlets, drawing in fresh air and expelling stale air. These ventilation gargoyles seek to recreate a connection between the terrestrial and celestial realms while also offering protection to the structures on which they are erected.

Ornament and Crime was published in 1908 by Austrian architect and designer Adolf Loos. This lampoon is one of the foundational texts of modernity and describes ornamentation as a crime. “The evolution of culture is synonymous with the removal of ornament from objects of everyday use”. Adolf Loos continues: “The child is amoral. For us, so is the Papuan. The Papuan slaughters his enemies and devours them. He is not a criminal. But if modern man slaughters and devours someone, he is a criminal or a degenerate. The Papuan tattoos his skin, his boat, his rudder, in short everything that lies to hand. He is not a criminal. But modern man who tattoos himself is a criminal or a degenerate.”

In 1920, Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier published Ornament and Crime in the second issue of his journal L’Esprit Nouveau. He also advocated an evolutionary view of art and architecture, leading him to declare his opposition to “the arabesque”.

Based on these dogmas and their influence on modern and contemporary production, my research focuses on the historical meanings of different types of ornamentation and works toward the emergence of new ornament forms.