Ornament as a need in spontaneous architecture. Learning aesthetics from self-constructed dwellings.

Abstract

Ornament or decorative elements are a constant in spontaneous architecture. When people build their own dwelling without consulting a professional, it will always display some kind of sign or symbol aimi ng to make the house “beautiful”. Even if there is rarely a consensus on what beautiful means, the preferences of the inhabitants are shown through a set of el ements in the architec ture of their house. Precarious spontaneous housi ng i n the peripheries of Lima (Peru) shows us how the search for beauty occupies a fundamental place in peopl es’ priorities, emerging even before the most basic comforts that people expects to have in their houses.