Robert Venturi was an influential American architect known for helping establish postmodern architecture. Some of his key works include the Vanna Venturi House (1964), which featured ornamentation and architectural complexity that challenged modernist design, the Provincial Capitol Building in Toulouse, France (1999), and the Episcopal Academy Chapel (2008). Venturi's buildings often incorporated symbolic cultural references and juxtaposed different architectural styles.

1. ”Architects can no longer afford to be
intimidated by the puritanically moral
language of orthodox Modern architecture.”
– Robert Venturi

2. 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
PhiladelphiaFigure1: ROBERT VENTURI
SOURCE: http://www.archdaily.com/tag/robert-venturi/

3. 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
well as innovating, inconsistent
and equivocal rather than direct
and clear. I am for messy vitality
over obvious unity. I include the
non sequitor and proclaim the
duality.
his vision:
FIGURE 2:HE WROTE THE BOOK “COMPLEXITY AND
CONTRADICTION IN ARCHITECTURE” WHICH CHANGED PEOPLE’S
VIEW ABOUT ARCHITECTURE
SOURCE: http://img5.douban.com/mpic/s4269767.jpg

4. DUCK AND
DECORATED SHED
FIGURE 3: DUCK AND DEECORATED SHED
Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, Steven Iznour. Learning by las
Vegas , The MIT press, 1972..
ARCHITECTURE IS DECORATION OF
SHELTER.” – Robert Venturi
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 4: Representative of “the duck” from Venturi and Scott-Brown’s book,
Learning from Las Vegas, 1972.
SOURCE:http://thearchitecturalmirror.blogspot.in/2009/03/ducks-and-
sheds.html

5. • 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/

6. 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

7. works of ROBERT
VENTURI1. VANNA VENTURI HOUSE
GENERAL INFORMATION
TYPE RESIDENCE
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE POSTMODERN
TOWN OR CITY
PHILADELPHIA,
PENNSYLVANIA
COUNTRY UNITED STATES
CONSTRUCTION 1959 (DESIGN)
COMPLETED 1964
COST $43,000
CLIENT VANNA VENTURI
FIGURE 4: VANNA VENTURI HOUSE
SOURCE: http://www.archdaily.com/62743/ad-classics-vanna-
venturi-house-robert-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 6: VIEW FROM THE REAR OF
THE HOUSE (SOUTH)

8. 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/

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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/

12. works of ROBERT
VENTURI2. PROVINCIAL CAPITOL BUILDING
FIGURE 15: PROVINCIAL CAPITOL BUILDING
SOURCE: http://www.arcspace.com/features/venturi-scott-brown--
ass/provincial-capitol-building/
GENERAL INFORMATION
TYPE GOVERNMENT
ARCHITECTURAL POSTMODERN
TOWN OR CITY TOULOUSE
COUNTRY FRANCE
COMPLETETION 1999
COST $80,000,000
CLIENT
DEPARTMENT OF
HAUTE-GARONNE
FLOOR AREA 760,000 SQ FEET
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
ARCHITECT
VENTURI, SCOTT
AND ASSOCIATES

13. FIGURE 16: PROVINCIAL CAPITOL BUILDING – SITE PLAN
SOURCE: http://www.arcspace.com/features/venturi-scott-brown--
ass/provincial-capitol-building/
FIGURE 17: PROVINCIAL CAPITOL BUILDING – FLOOR PLAN
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.
Today the capitole houses the city
hall, as well as the théâtre du
capitole de toulouse opera
company and a symphony
orchestra

14. 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.

15. FIGURE 18: VIEW INTO THE COURTYARD FIGURE 19: THE COURTYARD

16. FIGURE 20: EXTERIOR OF ASSEMBLY HALL
FIGURE 21: INTERIOR OF ASSEMBLY HALL

17. 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.

18. FIGURE 22: NORTH ENTRY & “STREET THROUGH
THE BUILDING”
FIGURE 23: INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING
FIGURE 24: AERIAL VIEW
FIGURE 25: DISTANT VIEWS OF THE BUILDING IN CONTEXT

19. works of ROBERT
VENTURI3. EPISCOPAL ACADEMY CHAPEL
FIGURE 26: EPISCOPAL ACADEMY CHAPEL
SOURCE:http://www.museomagazine.com/SCOTT-BROWN-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
ARCHITECT
VENTURI, SCOTT
AND ASSOCIATES

20. FIGURE 27: A CHAPEL FOR THE EPISCOPAL ACADEMY, 1950 , THESIS DRAWING(UNBUILT) VSBA
SOURCE:http://www.museomagazine.com/SCOTT-BROWN-VENTURI

21. FIGURE 26: EPISCOPAL ACADEMY CHAPEL EXTERIOR FRONT VIEW
SOURCE:http://www.museomagazine.com/SCOTT-BROWN-VENTURI
FIGURE 26: EPISCOPAL ACADEMY CHAPEL PLAN
SOURCE :http://hts3.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/venturiscott-brown
FIGURE 26: INTERIOR VIEW
SOURCE :http://www.museomagazine.com/SCOTT-BROWN-VENTURI
FIGURE 26: INTERIOR VIEW
SOURCE : http://hts3.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/venturiscott-brown

22. FIGURE 26: FREEDOM PLAZA
SOURCE: http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/1971/robert:
FIGURE 26: FREEDOM PLAZA FOUNTAIN
SOURCE:http://tclf.org/landscapes/freedom-plaza
FIGURE 26: FREEDOM PLAZA
SOURCE: http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/1971/robert:
FIGURE 26: FREEDOM PLAZA PROTEST
SOURCE:http://tclf.org/landscapes/freedom-plaza
works of ROBERT
VENTURI4. FREEDOM PLAZA

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

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

25. Inlaid with depiction of parts of Petercharles
l'enfant‘s plan of the city of Washington
FIGURE 26: Inlaid pattern on floor
SOURCE:http://tclf.org/landscapes/freedom-plaza
FIGURE 26: Casimir pulaski statue
SOURCE:http://tclf.org/landscapes/freedom-plaza

26. 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/