The ERC DECOR focused on three fields of activity:
a) The analysis of late Republican and Early Imperial architecture and objects with regard to their design and decoration. The regional focus was on Pompeii with its outstanding preservation conditions. Three monographs provide insight into the decorative strategies in private contexts: An overarching monograph (A. Haug, Decor-Räume in pompejanischen Stadthäusern, DECOR 1, Berlin 2020) discusses the change of decorative principles between the so-called First and Third Styles, a second monograph (Chr. Beck, Die Ausstattung kleinerer Häuser in Pompeji, Insula IX 5, DECOR 6, in print) uses the example of Insula IX 5 to make detailed observations on the use of decor in the final phase of the city, while the third monograph (A. Hielscher, Instrumenta domestica aus Pompeji und ihr Design, DECOR 4, Berlin 2022) deals with the decoration of domestic objects. In addition, a architectural and geophysics survey of Insula I 4 provided new insights into the chronology of a spectacular decorative context - the Casa del Citarista (by Tobias Busen and Wolfgang Rabbel). Further studies discussed the role of marble within Pompeiian and Herculanean houses (Simon Barker) and the use of decor in the substructions of villae (Roberta Ferrito). These latter results are published in the ERC conference volumes (A. Haug - T. Lauritsen, Principles of Decoraton in the Roman Worlds, DECOR 2, Berlin 2021; A. Haug et al., Materiality in Roman Art and Architecture, DECOR 3, Berlin 2022; A. Haug et al., Neighbourhoods and City Quarters in Antiquity, DECOR 7, in print). The analysis of decor strategies in private contexts is complemented by studies of decorative principles in streets and sanctuaries - contexts which are characterised by different audiences, actions and perceptual conditions. The results are published in the aforementioned conference volumes as well as in scientific journals. The concluding monograph provides a comparative perspective on the use and perception of decoration in different functional contexts of ancient Pompeii (A. Haug, Öffentliche Räume in Pompeji. Zum Design urbaner Atmosphären, DECOR 5, in print).
b) All sub-projects of DECOR have developed a theoretical and methodological design that will offer answers to general questions concerning the aesthetic, semantic and social relevance of decor, as well as its relation to agency and/or architecture. This includes a critical discussion of the ancient concept and notion of decor as well as the development of new theoretical approaches to the interdependency of use and perception of decoration in different ancient contexts. The concluding monograph developped an innovative perspective on public spaces by addressing their atmospheric effects.
c) All sub-projects have contributed to the dissemination of results to the scientific as well as to the non-scientific public.
Science: The PI and all team members presented results at national and international congresses and workshops. For the scientific publication of the results, the monograph series DECOR was established (De Gruyter, publications open access and print). In addition, results are also published in scientific journals.
Outreach: Additional effort has been made for the public dissemination of results on different levels: the organisation of a summer school (student level), the establishement a young-scientists-network (PhD level), the organisation of broad interdisciplinary conference on urban design, including a published booklet for the broad public (in print), the organisation of a public lecture series (broader academia and public level), the organisation of two public exhibitions in Kiel („Bildwanderungen – Bildtransporte. Die augusteische Bilderwelt jenseits der Alpen“ (15.10.2021 - 16.01.2022) and Hamburg „Die neuen Bilder des Augustus" (08.10.2022 – 15.01.2023) including published exhibition catalogues.
