ABSTRACT
Chapter 9 is presented as an epilogue, ‘a short speech or poem at the end, especially of a play’. It is a personal statement by the editor of the series. This essay is presented as an epilogue to retain the integrity of the original work, which is the result of the pooled insights of the three original authors. The aim of the essay is to clarify the intentions of the book. This book does not set out to advance the cause of ornate city architecture nor to provide a manual of good decorative design. The aim of the book is much more modest: it presents one starting point for a rational discussion about the nature of, and the need for, ornament and decoration in the city. For this purpose an attempt was made to find out where, when and why decoration was used in the city. City decoration is analysed in terms of form and function and then classified. Such a typology is an essential tool for teaching, learning and rational discussion. The procedure adopted in this study is similar to those used for intellectual endeavour in many subject areas.
