Ornament and Crime

"Ornament and Crime" is a concept from the early 20th century that criticizes excessive decoration in architecture and design. It argues that focusing on purely decorative elements can hinder functionality, progress, and practicality in design. The idea promotes simplicity, efficiency, and honesty in materials and structure, suggesting that unnecessary ornamentation is a waste of resources and can slow societal advancement. Essentially, it champions clean, straightforward aesthetics that serve a purpose, reflecting a shift towards modernist principles emphasizing usefulness over decoration.