Horror vacui is Latin for “fear of the void” and describes the tendency to fill every available surface completely with ornaments, patterns or detailing, so that hardly any empty areas remain. The term comes from the history of art and architecture and stands in direct contrast to minimalism, in which empty space is instead regarded as a quality.
In architecture, horror vacui is seen above all in richly decorated styles, where facades, vaults and interiors are worked with ornament from top to bottom.
Application and recognition
- Building styles — characteristic of the Baroque, Moorish architecture and parts of Art Nouveau and Jugendstil, among others
- Facades — no smooth wall surface, but mouldings, festoons, cartouches and relief everywhere
- Interiors — ceilings, walls and columns full of plasterwork, painting and carving
- Tile and plaster work — repeating motifs covering the entire surface, as with azulejos or arabesques
The concept is descriptive, not necessarily a judgement: for some styles, complete filling is precisely the goal. Its counterpart is the modernist principle “less is more”, which places the calm, empty wall at its centre.
Related terms
- Ornament
- Baroque
- Art Nouveau
- Minimalism
- Arabesque
- Relief
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