DETALHES, PORMENORES E ORNAMENTOS À PARTE. Uma cisma sobre o pormenor contemporâneo

Abstract

This dissertation constitutes a theoretical reflection on the concept of pormenor in architecture, conceived not merely as a constructive detail, but above all as a design and compositional intention, with a critical dimension intrinsic to the architectural work. The pormenor is approached here as an interdependent category, capable of revealing a conscious stance towards the discipline, while imparting meaning, value, and identity to architecture. In the first section, the distinctions between pormenor, ornament and detail are discussed, acknowledging their conceptual interrelations with form, space, language and process, as well as their various manifestations in architectural practice. The research therefore seeks to clarify the role of pormenor as an operative concept and as a design instrument, rather than to provide definitive answers. In the second section, the relevance of conducting a study of references is acknowledged, seeking in the work of certain architects, examples of architecture that is meticulous, attentive, and grounded in shared values. Works by Valerio Olgiati, Andrea Deplazes, and Adam Caruso and Peter St John are analysed, with a focus on Atelier Bardill, the Gantenbein Winery, and The Triple Folly, respectively; identifying in them distinct approaches to conceiving and designing the pormenor. Through the interpretation of their projects, it is highlighted how the pormenor can simultaneously function as a deliberate gesture, a symbol of resistance and a link within the history of architecture. The study concludes from the perspective that detailing, more than a practice or convention, constitutes a field of ongoing inquiry, an intellectual concern considered fundamental for a deeper understanding of architecture.