A Curbside Revolt

Could architectural ornamentation become a new sign of non-conformist resistance?

It may seem a ludicrous and inconsequential question when millions of Americans are unemployed and when despair chokes our dreams like the smoke from a thousand dumpster fires. But step aside from the horror for just a moment and imagine that you’re an architect with a superior flair for design. Then ask yourself, if money were not a concern and you could customize your own dwelling from the ground up, what would you include? And as you fill that thought-bubble, consider if you would add decorative flourishes to the exterior.

Why does that last question matter? More on that in a moment. For now, expand the range of decorative possibilities beyond faux stone finishes or a touch of siding. Ponder something dramatic and memorable, something that challenges the tyranny of neutral-toned, rooftop triangles that now rule the sky over suburban America.

I’m talking about something like this.

Or this…