”Architects can no longer afford to be

intimidated by the puritanically moral

language of orthodox Modern architecture.”
– Robert Venturi
 robert venturi
BORN: June 25, 1925 (age 88)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

AWARDS: Pritzker Prize (1991)

Vincent Scully Prize (2002

FOUNDING PRINCIPAL of the

firm Venturi, Scott Brown and
Associates

SCHOOL: Episcopal Academy in

Merion, Pennsylvania

GRADUATION: Princeton
University, won the D'Amato
Prize in Architecture

WORK EXPERIENCE: Eero

Saarinen in Bloomfield Hills,
Michigan, Louis Kahn in
Figure1: ROBERT VENTURI
SOURCE: http://www.archdaily.com/tag/robert-venturi/
Philadelphia
his vision: I like elements which are hybrid
rather than ‘pure’, compromising
rather than ‘clean’, distorted
rather than ‘straightforward’,
ambiguous rather than
‘articulated’, perverse as well as
impersonal, boring as well as
‘interesting’, conventional rather
than ‘designed’, accommodating
rather than excluding, redundant
rather than simple, vestigial as
FIGURE 2:HE WROTE THE BOOK “COMPLEXITY AND
CONTRADICTION IN ARCHITECTURE” WHICH CHANGED PEOPLE’S
well as innovating, inconsistent
VIEW ABOUT ARCHITECTURE
SOURCE: http://img5.douban.com/mpic/s4269767.jpg
and equivocal rather than direct
and clear. I am for messy vitality
over obvious unity. I include the
non sequitor and proclaim the
duality.
DUCK AND ARCHITECTURE IS DECORATION OF
SHELTER.” – Robert Venturi
DECORATED SHED Concept of Duck and Decorated Sheds were
codified in 1972 book ‘Learning from Las
Vegas’ by Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown
and Steven Iznour.
Duck is referred to a building whose system of
space, structure and program are submerged
and distorted by an overall symbolic form.
Decorated Sheds are more like generic
structures which cannot exist without signs
and other applied ornamentation.

FIGURE 3: DUCK AND DEECORATED SHED

Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, Steven Iznour. Learning by las
FIGURE 4: Representative of “the duck” from Venturi and Scott-Brown’s book,
Vegas , The MIT press, 1972..
Learning from Las Vegas, 1972.
SOURCE:http://thearchitecturalmirror.blogspot.in/2009/03/ducks-and-
sheds.html
• In 1972, Venturi and his wife
began a study of Las Vegas
architecture-their effort was
to categorize and classify
architecture.
• Learning from Las Vegas was a
criticism of orthodox
modernism and its elite style.
• The project studied Las Vegas
architecture and the role its
signs played in creating the
urban landscape.
• It became a call to re-
introduce symbolism into
architectural design. FIGURE 3: Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, and Steven Izenour,
Physiognamy of a Typical Casino Sign, 1972. From Learning from Las Vegas,
1972.
SOURCE: http://www.pinterest.com/sedrabnivag/xyz_usnv-las-vegas/
 architecture

• VENTURI'S BUILDINGS TYPICALLY JUXTAPOSE ARCHITECTURAL

SYSTEMS, ELEMENTS AND AIMS, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
CONFLICTS OFTEN INHERENT IN A PROJECT OR SITE

• ROBERT VENTURI IS KNOWN FOR INCORPORATING STYLIZED

CULTURAL ICONS INTO HIS BUILDINGS.

• HOWEVER, VENTURI IS RECOGNIZED FOR MUCH MORE

THAN POSTMODERNIST DESIGNS.

• THE FIRM HAS COMPLETED MORE THAN 400 PROJECTS,

EACH UNIQUELY SUITED TO THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF THE
CLIENTS
 works of ROBERT
1. VANNA VENTURI HOUSE VENTURI
TECHNICAL DETAILS
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM LIGHT WOOD FRAME
FLOOR COUNT 2 PLUS BASEMENT
FLOOR AREA 1,800 SQ FT (170 M2)

FIGURE 5: VIEW FROM THE SIDE

(SOUTH-EAST)

FIGURE 4: VANNA VENTURI HOUSE

SOURCE: http://www.archdaily.com/62743/ad-classics-vanna-
venturi-house-robert-venturi/
GENERAL INFORMATION
TYPE RESIDENCE
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE POSTMODERN
PHILADELPHIA,
TOWN OR CITY
PENNSYLVANIA
COUNTRY UNITED STATES
CONSTRUCTION 1959 (DESIGN)
COMPLETED 1964
COST $43,000
FIGURE 6: VIEW FROM THE REAR OF
CLIENT VANNA VENTURI THE HOUSE (SOUTH)
STRUCTURAL DETAILS
• The five room house stands only about 30 feet (9 m) tall at the top
the chimney, but has a monumental front façade.
• A non-structural applique arch and "hole in the wall" windows,
other elements, were challenge to modernist orthodoxy.
• The house is designed around a chimney that is centralised and goes
all the way to the top of the house.
• Externally, they house is built symmetrical.
• Venturi has distorted this idea of symmetry.
• There is also a basement underneath the house that is often not
covered by people.

FIGURE 7: VANNA VENTURI HOUSE – FLOOR PLANS

SOURCE: http://www.archdaily.com/62743/ad-classics-vanna-
venturi-house-robert-venturi/groundfloorplan-3/
 FIGURE 8: VANNA VENTURI HOUSE – DETAILED SECTION

FIGURE 9: VANNA VENTURI HOUSE – FRONT ELEVATION FIGURE 10: VANNA VENTURI HOUSE – REAR ELEVATION

SOURCE: http://www.archdaily.com/62743/ad-classics-vanna-venturi-house-robert-venturi/groundfloorplan-3
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE HOUSE ARE A REACTION AGAINST STANDARD
MODERNIST ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS:
- PITCHED ROOF RATHER THAN FLAT ROOF,
- EMPHASIS ON CENTRAL HEARTH & CHIMNEY,
- CLOSED GROUND FLOOR

- ON THE FRONT ELEVATION THE BROKEN PEDIMENT OR GABLE & A PURELY

ORNAMENTAL APPLIQUE ARCH

- HOUSE IS A COMPOSITION OF RECTANGULAR, CURVILINEAR, AND

ELEMENTS COMING TOGETHER (OR SOMETIMES JUXTAPOSING EACH
WAY THAT INARGUABLY CREATES COMPLEXITY AND CONTRADICTION.

- VENTURI EXPERIMENTED WITH SCALE. INSIDE THE HOUSE CERTAIN

“TOO BIG,”

- VENTURI ALSO MINIMIZED CIRCULATION SPACE IN THE DESIGN OF THE

FIGURE 11: VANNA VENTURI HOUSE – INTERIORS FIGURE 12: VANNA VENTURI HOUSE – STAIRACSE LEADING TO
UPPER FLOORS

FIGURE 13: VANNA VENTURI HOUSE – FRONT GABLED ARCH FIGURE 14: VANNA VENTURI HOUSE – DRAWING ROOM AREA

SOURCE: http://www.archdaily.com/62743/ad-classics-vanna-venturi-house-robert-venturi/
 works of ROBERT
2. PROVINCIAL CAPITOL BUILDING VENTURI

GENERAL INFORMATION
TYPE GOVERNMENT
ARCHITECTURAL POSTMODERN
TOWN OR CITY TOULOUSE
COUNTRY FRANCE
COMPLETETION 1999
COST $80,000,000
DEPARTMENT OF
CLIENT
HAUTE-GARONNE
FLOOR AREA 760,000 SQ FEET
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
VENTURI, SCOTT
ARCHITECT
AND ASSOCIATES

FIGURE 15: PROVINCIAL CAPITOL BUILDING

SOURCE: http://www.arcspace.com/features/venturi-scott-brown--
ass/provincial-capitol-building/
 The building consists of an
administrative and legislative complex
including offices, the legislative
assembly chamber, public services,
various public and governmental
support spaces, three levels of
underground parking for public and
staff, and outdoor and indoor
ceremonial spaces.

FIGURE 16: PROVINCIAL CAPITOL BUILDING – SITE PLAN

SOURCE: http://www.arcspace.com/features/venturi-scott-brown--
ass/provincial-capitol-building/

Today the capitole houses the city

hall, as well as the théâtre du
capitole de toulouse opera
company and a symphony
orchestra FIGURE 17: PROVINCIAL CAPITOL BUILDING – FLOOR PLAN
SOURCE: http://www.arcspace.com/features/venturi-scott-brown--
ass/provincial-capitol-building/
DESIGN
• TWO SLENDER SIX-STORY WINGS OF FLEXIBLE LOFT SPACE
TWO GLASS-CLAD BRIDGES.

• ADMINISTRATION BUILDINGS FRAME A PEDESTRIAN WAY, A

STREET"

• THE CRESCENT-SHAPED PUBLIC SPACE ALONG THIS CIVIC STREET,

FOCUS OF BUILDINGS.

• THE SURFACES OF THE INTERIOR COURT CONTAIN THE SAME

WINDOWS, AND ARE OF BRICK.

• IMPORTANT FORMS SUCH AS THOSE OF THE HALL

SALLE DU CONSEIL GÉNÉRAL ARE SHEATHED IN GLASS CURTAIN
WALLS.
FIGURE 18: VIEW INTO THE COURTYARD FIGURE 19: THE COURTYARD
 FIGURE 20: EXTERIOR OF ASSEMBLY HALL

FIGURE 21: INTERIOR OF ASSEMBLY HALL

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

• The building's siting in center of site, framed by landscaped park

gardens, softens its impact in this neighborhood, while allowing the
possibility of future expansion of smaller increments nearer the
perimeter of the site.

• A large park facing the canal du midi enhances the neighborhood

provides a setting for the building along the canal where one can
the great curved section of the building as a reflection of the curve
the Garonne in this area, as it flows to the sea.

• Covered bridges in glass span the pedestrian street connecting the

two wings of the building at two locations. They offer dramatic
from within the complex and, by their form and silhouette, serve as
symbolic gateways to the civic crescent.
 FIGURE 23: INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING
FIGURE 22: NORTH ENTRY & “STREET THROUGH
THE BUILDING”

FIGURE 25: DISTANT VIEWS OF THE BUILDING IN CONTEXT

FIGURE 24: AERIAL VIEW

 works of ROBERT
3. EPISCOPAL ACADEMY CHAPEL VENTURI

GENERAL INFORMATION
TYPE CHAPEL
ARCHITECTURAL POSTMODERN
TOWN OR CITY PHILADELPHIA
COUNTRY UNITED STATES
COMPLETETION 2008
COST $85,00,000
FLOOR AREA 15,000 SQ FEET
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
VENTURI, SCOTT
ARCHITECT
AND ASSOCIATES

FIGURE 26: EPISCOPAL ACADEMY CHAPEL

SOURCE:http://www.museomagazine.com/SCOTT-BROWN-VENTURI
FIGURE 27: A CHAPEL FOR THE EPISCOPAL ACADEMY, 1950 , THESIS DRAWING(UNBUILT) VSBA
SOURCE:http://www.museomagazine.com/SCOTT-BROWN-VENTURI
FIGURE 26: EPISCOPAL ACADEMY CHAPEL EXTERIOR FRONT VIEW FIGURE 26: INTERIOR VIEW
SOURCE:http://www.museomagazine.com/SCOTT-BROWN-VENTURI SOURCE : http://hts3.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/venturiscott-brown

FIGURE 26: EPISCOPAL ACADEMY CHAPEL PLAN FIGURE 26: INTERIOR VIEW
SOURCE :http://hts3.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/venturiscott-brown SOURCE :http://www.museomagazine.com/SCOTT-BROWN-VENTURI
 works of ROBERT
4. FREEDOM PLAZA VENTURI

FIGURE 26: FREEDOM PLAZA FIGURE 26: FREEDOM PLAZA

SOURCE: http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/1971/robert: SOURCE: http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/1971/robert:

FIGURE 26: FREEDOM PLAZA FOUNTAIN FIGURE 26: FREEDOM PLAZA PROTEST
SOURCE:http://tclf.org/landscapes/freedom-plaza SOURCE:http://tclf.org/landscapes/freedom-plaza
 Freedom Plaza was a part of The
Pennsylvania Avenue
Development Corporation’s
(PADC) plan to transform
Pennsylvania Avenue into a
ceremonial route connecting the
US Capitol to the White House.

FIGURE 26: FREEDOM PLAZA FOUNTAIN

SOURCE:http://tclf.org/landscapes/freedom-plaza

Freedom Plaza was commonly

known as western plaza.
It is a popular place for political
protests, civic events, and (despite
its official prohibition)
skateboarding.

FIGURE 26: FREEDOM PLAZA FOUNTAIN

SOURCE:http://tclf.org/landscapes/freedom-plaza
 FIGURE 26: FREEDOM PLAZA FLOOR
SOURCE:http://tclf.org/landscapes/freedom-plaza

Historic quotations are incised on the plaza floor and terrace walls.
Quotes by famous people about Washington, DC, are carved into the
paving stones.
 FIGURE 26: Inlaid pattern on floor
SOURCE:http://tclf.org/landscapes/freedom-plaza

FIGURE 26: Casimir pulaski statue

Inlaid with depiction of parts of Petercharles SOURCE:http://tclf.org/landscapes/freedom-plaza

l'enfant‘s plan of the city of Washington

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Venturi
• http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Robert_Venturi.html
• http://venturiscottbrown.org/
• http://www.archdaily.com/62743/ad-classics-vanna-venturi-house-robert-venturi/
• http://www.arcspace.com/features/venturi-scott-brown--ass/provincial-capitol-
building/