Structure is Decoration

An Art Nouveau interior where decoration and structure are inseparable. The wrought iron column supporting the staircase is itself a curved plant stem, branching upwards into a handrail and balustrade; the ceiling beams grow out of the wall, gradually tapering and bending; the wooden work of the door frame naturally twists into a curve at the corner. There is no decoration that can be removed while the structure remains. Avoid: making decoration into detachable attached components, having a square structure with only curves added to the surface, using decorative panels unrelated to the structure, using curves only on small accessories.

Translated from Chinese by AI.

一個裝飾與結構分不開的新藝術室內。支撐樓梯的鍛鐵柱本身就是一根彎曲的植物莖,向上分岔成扶手與欄杆;天花的樑從牆面長出來時逐漸變細並彎折;門框的木作在轉角處自然地扭轉成一道曲線。沒有任何一個裝飾是可以拆掉而結構還在的。避免:把裝飾做成可以拆卸的貼附構件、讓結構是方正的只在表面加曲線、使用與結構無關的裝飾板、把曲線只用在小配件上。