<iframe width="668" src="//www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/key/KNCuQNsGZn3k3O" height="714"> </iframe> <div> <strong> <a>Comparative analysis-essay</a> </strong> from <strong><a>KarYi Koh</a></strong> </div>

1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303/ARC2224)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2016) [10 MARKS]
NAME: Koh Kar Yi ID: 0320567
LECTURER: Mr. Lam Shen Fei TUTORIAL TIME: 4pm – 6pm
SYNOPSIS NO: READER TITLE: Learning from Las Vegas: The Forgotten Symbolism
of Architectural Form
AUTHOR: Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, Steven Izenour
Authors criticize modern architecture for a few reasons mainly being: The rejection of symbolic
architecture in eclecticism to be replaced by expressionism; Misinterpretation ofthe modernist
principle ‘form follows functions’ leading to significant deterioration ofsymbolism; The omission of the
need and preference ofcommon people for the desire ofthe architects for their heroic selfish
architecture.
Venturi’s slogan ‘Less is a bore’ challenges Mies’s modernistnotion ‘less is more.’ The
ornamentation eschewed by the modernistis often desired by the common people,who do not
understand art, especially the modern architectural language but prefer straight-forward simplicity.
The image ofthe Las Vegas such as the neon signs and roadside billboards reveals a successful
example which effectively reacts to the people’s taste and idea.
Speaking ofclarity of design, the modernistarchitecture which shunned ornamentation is not any
different than the controversial duck store in the shape ofduck which is as clear as being a symbol
itself. In contrast, the decorated shed is a generic structure which needs its signage to identify a
purpose, which has its interior function entirely independenton the exterior. Again contradicting with
modernistarchitecture which embraces the sense ofunified identities and wholeness,the decorated
shed reveals a sense ofconflicting identities and fragmentation.
In Malaysian contextwhere mostpeople have very low understanding and appreciation ofart, the
profound architecture which overemphasizes the derivation ofinsights from unexpected images, can
hardly be successful especially in the commercial industry. Nevertheless, the application of
superficial architecture principles seems to be perfunctory and irresponsible.Besides being highly
creative and very well equipped with knowledge, architects need to learn from the history and
existing contextin order to find the balance for an architecture which is meaningful and at the same
time enjoyable for the common people.

2. WORD COUNT 300
Key points (2.5)
Appropriateness of
Terminologies (2.5)
Clarity in Opinions and
Reactions (2.5)
Logical Progression (2.5)
DATE: TOTAL MARK & GRADE
ASSSESSED BY: