the theme for the recent lisbon architecture triennale ? the poetics of reason ? posits that architecture is grounded in reason, and that rationality is key to both understanding it and democratising it. curated by eric lapierre under the premise that architecture should be intelligible to all, the program aimed to shed light onto the specificity of this reason, pegged to a series of exhibitions that explored aspects of architectural rationality.

images by fabio cunha unless stated otherwise
 
 
that included ?what is ornament"? at culturgest, the foundation of caixa geral de depósito, curated by ambra fabi and giovanni piovene, which interrogated ornament as an integral part of architecture. aiming to reconfigure the discussion around ornament, it focused on its current appropriation and interpretation, whilst ?reacting to a recent return in ornament intended in its pre-digital sense, beyond its superficial iteration of the early 2000s.?
 
 
the result is a multifaceted narrative that looks into the very essence of ornament, ranging from the ornamental permanence of columns and patterns, to the more transient idea of fireworks that decorate a sky whilst illuminating a city. organized across six rooms, a minimal scenography by richard venlet frames these various themes, at the center of which is a restoration of aldo rossi?s film ?ornament and crime? from 1973 ? a 16mm documentary showing monuments of his personal memory. it features fragments from italian clas...