Design and Tradition / A short account of the principles and historic development of architecture and the applied arts

by Amor Fenn

Repetition and Alternation

Generally speaking, the detail should preferably be of a formal character, and should consist of the repetition of units with no interest beyond that imparted by alternation.

The detail must, moreover, be designed with due regard to the space to be filled, and, in any border which encloses any space, a common divisor of height and width should be found in accordance with which the unit can be designed.