The role of ornamentation in modernist architecture is minimal or non-existent. Modernist designers believed that ornamentation was no longer necessary to express the function and form of a building. Instead, they preferred clean lines, simple forms, and materials that celebrated their innate qualities rather than be covered up with decoration. This led to the use of materials such as glass, steel, and concrete in their raw and unadorned state, emphasizing functionality and minimalism over decoration. Thus, the primary goal of modernist architecture was to create simple, functional, and beautiful buildings, rather than prioritize decorative elements.
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