Robert Venturi analyzed the Starhill Gallery based on his theory of "Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture". He found that the building exhibited complexity through its crystalline facade but simplicity inside. It also showed ambiguity in its two types of pedestrian walkways. Additionally, the use of materials like steel, stone and glass that contrasted with surroundings demonstrated Venturi's rejection of oversimplification. The study analyzed how the building's facade, circulation and materials embodied Venturi's focus on complexity, contradiction and ambiguity in architecture.

1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN
Centre for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia
Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Architecture)
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM [ARC61303] [ARC2224]
PROJECT PART II: ANALYZING AND THEORIZING ARCHITECTURE
Name: Hiew Yen Nee
Student ID: 0314212
Tutor: Mr. Lam Shen Fei

2. Figure 1: Starhill Gallery (Gallery - Starhill Gallery / Spark Architects - 7 (ArchDaily)
Introduction
The purpose of the study is to theorize architecture based on the analysis of self and
architecture, while in brief, to research and analyse on “what is one doing when one is doing
architecture?”
The studied architect, Robert Venturi , who born June 25, 1925, is a post-
modern architect inUnitedState, which one of the major architectural figures in the
twentieth century. He helped to shape the way that architects, planners and students
experience and think about architecture and the American built environment. He also
contributed some conferences about architecture.
In his theory ‘Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture’, Venturi thinks that
architecture is about to reject and exclude the complexities that appear in architecture. It is
because the building is essentially comprised of different perspective of views or idea which
dealing with outside and inside, movement and function and so on.

3. The general scope of this study is on the analysis of 3 external contributing factors that
influence Robert Venturi’s architectural thoughts shown in a project, which is the Starhill
Gallery. This building is a luxury retail mall located in the Bukit Bintang shopping district
of Kuala Lumpur. The mall opened in 1996 as Starhill Shopping Centre. So, the three
contributing factors which are analysed are: building form (façade), building material and
circulation.
Façade
Figure 2: Façade of Starhill Gallery (Gallery - Starhill Gallery / Spark Architects - 7 (ArchDaily)
In the theory ‘Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture’, one of the point that
mentioned by Robert Venturi is the phenomenon of ‘Both- and’ in architecture. This point of
theory is talking about the comparisons and the contrast of a thing among an element with
different values. For example, in Le Corbusier’s Shodhan House, the façade seems like
closed yet is an open cube. Besides, the building is precisely closed by its corners, yet it is
randomly opened on its surface (Refer to figure 3).
So, in Starhill Gallery, the crystalline shape of the façade makes the whole building
looks complex, yet the building inside is very simple. The reason of designing a complex

4. façade for this building is to firmly engaged with the public realm and generates a valuable
visual connections along this section of Bukit Bintang.
Figure 3: Shodhan House (Shodan House by Le Corbusier at GreatBuildings (GreatBuildings)
Besides, the building’s façade provides a lot of visual interest for the pedestrians
while they are walking in front of the shops that attract people attention with its crystalline
skin of glass and stone panels. The crystalline façade with variation of solidity and
transparency transforms the street façade of the existing building entirely which give itself a
new contemporary classic identity that stands out among the other shopping mall’s façades
beside. Furthermore, the shape of the façade breaks out the rigidity of the surrounding
building (Refer to figure 4).

5. Figure 4: Regular shape vs irregular shape (Starhill Gallery | ArchiTravel (ArchiTravel)
Whereas, for its interior, the arrangement of the spaces are simple as they are
arranged without any use of walls to separate the spaces between each other’s (Refer to
figure 5). Besides, the interior also used simple light fixtures which enhance the simplicity of
the interior of this building (Refer to figure 6). These kinds of interior design give a harmony
feeling for the users when they walk inside the building.
Figure 5: First Floor plan

6. Figure 6: Interior of Starhill Gallery (Starhill Gallery | ArchiTravel (ArchiTravel)
Circulation
Starhill Gallery is formed by two separate spaces. One of the spaces is used by the
cosmetics brand Sephora while the other space which is an iconic triple height shopping
pavilion is used by a French luxury retailer. These two spaces are separated by a wide- open
walkway on the ground floor and also a bridge which is connected these two spaces on the
first floor. This kind of connection between spaces make a similarity to what Robert
Venturi’s thought which mentioned that separating elements in architecture should be
joined together by not excluding one or the other for the sake of clarity in simplification. It is
because the clarity can lead to a bare and bland architecture which as a result stands alone
separate from the people it accommodates.

7. Figure 7: Open space in between Starhill Gallery (Gallery - Starhill Gallery / Spark Architects - 7 (ArchDaily)
Besides, in the theory ‘Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture’, one point that
Robert Venturi mentioned is ambiguity. He thinks that ambiguity is easily found in complex
and contradictory architecture. The reason is because people have different way of thought
in architecture. It is because an architectural element is perceived as form, structure,
texture and material, so from these elements, people may think differently. This is how the
ambiguous occurred in architecture. For example, in the floor plan of Villa Savoye, some
might think that the plan is round and some might think that it is a square plan (Refer to
figure 8). So, this is an ambiguous. For Grimsthorpe Castle, the relation to the back pavilions
is ambiguous from a distance, as people might think of whether it is near or far, big or small
(Refer to figure 8).

8. Figure 8: Floor plan of Villa Savoye
Figure 9: Grimsthorpe Castle (Grimsthorpe Castle (:: Historic Houses Association)
So, for Starhill Gallery, ambiguity also occurred in its circulation. It is because Starhill
Gallery is placed in the road junction, in term of its pedestrian walkway, there are two types
of it. One is from the wider pedestrian walkway then into the in- between space of Starhill
Gallery (Refer to figure 10). While the other types is from the wider pedestrian walkway to a
narrow pedestrian walkway (Refer to figure 11). By having the contrast these of two
circulations, people might think that figure 10 is the main circulation as the width of
walkway is wider than the circulation in figure 11. Whereas some might think that figure 11

9. is the main circulation as it is near to the main road which people from the opposite area
are easily access to it.
Figure 10: Circulation to Starhill Gallery
Figure 11: Circulation to Starhill Gallery

10. Figure 12: Contrast of width for the pedestrian walkway (Starhill Gallery / Sparkarchitects (Sparkarchitects)
Building Material

11. In the theory ‘Contradiction and Complexity in Architecture’, Robert Venturi focuses
on the contradiction and complexity that present in architecture and the society that the
architecture accommodates. He doesn’t much agree with oversimplification in architecture.
For example, he thinks that Mies’s infamous statement on modernism in “Less is more” is
more to “Less is a bore”. It is because the complex behaviour of people and how they move
through their environment is not reflective to one unified or simplified form.
In Starhill Gallery, the materials used are different from the surrounding building as
the neighbourhood buildings are mostly concrete used as their main materials. This makes a
big contrast between these buildings in term of their materials. The architects of this
building, Spark Architects, use the materials of lightweight steel, stone and glass for the
façade. This is the first time for them in Malaysia that embraces cutting-edge façade
technology from the French engineer RFR which is the team that delivered the Pyramid at
the Paris Louvre.
Figure 5: Lightweight steel

12. Figure 6: Stone cladding
Figure 7: Glass
These materials act as the primary materials as they are largely used throughout the
building. They give an unfinished look to the building which is minimalistic raw and natural,
which is the architect’s intention. The complex used of materials make the building
successful and memorable in appearance when people move through this kind of
environment. Besides, this shows up how people interact differently in architecture. It is
because people are different, so they might respond to an environment that accommodates
for this instinct that responds to changes and chaos. This features in architecture is similar
to Robert Venturi’s theory which mentioned that oversimplication in architecture might
make people ignore their desire in visual stimulation for the building.

13. Conclusion
In this regard, the three approaches are the considered signs with all the three are
being analysed based one Robert Venture’s theory ‘Complexity and Contradiction in
Architecture’ and then been applied in the chosen building which is Starhill Gallery. All three
factors are analysed based on each points mentioned in the theory. The first is being
analysed by the point of ‘Both-and’ in architecture. The second is being analysed by the
point of ‘Ambiguity’ and the third approach is being analysed based on the thought of
Robert Venturi in the contrast meanings of the building to the surrounding context.
Throughout all the research and analysis of Robert Venturi, I got to know that Robert
Venturi since little had always been curious and enjoys trying out new things instead of
making all the things simple. In ‘Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture’, Robert
Venturi wrote that "I like elements that 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,'. This sentence make me bring
out a thought that the young architect nowadays should practice Robert Venturi’s thought
as by having this kind of thought, we are able to do things beyond our limits and able to
learn more.

14. External Contributing Factors:
Figure 21: Diagrams showing conclusion of study of selected building based on the theory
Robert Venturi
‘Both- and’ in Architecture- the
comparisons and the contrast of
a thing among an element with
different values.
Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture
Focus on the contradiction and
complexity that present in
architecture and the society that
the architecture accommodates;
doesn’t much agree with
oversimplification in architecture.
Ambiguity is easily
found in complex and
contradictory
architecture.
Starhill Gallery
Facade Circulation Building Material
The crystalline shape of
the façade makes the
whole building looks
complex, yet the building
inside is very simple.
There are two types of
pedestrian walkway: One is
from the wider pedestrian
walkway then into the in-
between space of Starhill
Gallery ; the other types is
from the wider pedestrian
walkway to a narrow
pedestrian walkway.
The building used the
materials of lightweight
steel, stone and glass
for the façade which is
different from the
surrounding buildings.

15. References
Robert Venturi: "Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture" | Interpreted.
(2010, August13). Retrieved June 15, 2015, from
https://rebarcollective.wordpress.com/2010/08/13/robert-venturi-complexity-
and-contradiction-in-architecture-interpreted/
Complexity and contradiction in architecture by Robert venturi. (n.d.). Retrieved June 15,
2015, from http://www.slideshare.net/SivaRaman1/complexity-and-contradiction-in-
architecture-by-robert-venturi
Starhill Gallery / Spark Architects. (2013, March 7). Retrieved June 15, 2015, from
http://www.archdaily.com/341299/starhill-gallery-spark-architects
Starhill Gallery | ArchiTravel. (n.d.). Retrieved June 15, 2015, from
http://www.architravel.com/architravel/building/starhill-gallery/