This reaction paper summarizes and analyzes the reading "Learning from Las Vegas" by Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown and Steven Izenour. The authors studied the Las Vegas Strip and argued that it emphasizes iconography and symbolism over architectural form to represent the programs of buildings. They use examples like a duck-shaped store to show how architecture can define space through abstract symbols rather than just form. While Las Vegas has a modern appearance, the city actually uses traditional methods of communicating space through symbolic signage and false fronts rather than meaningful architectural form.

1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC61303)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2018)
Name: Zoe Low Li Mien ID No.: 0319444
Lecturer: Nicholas Ng Tutorial Time: 10am-1pm
Reader/Text Title: Learning from Las Vegas Synopsis No: 1
Author: Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown and
Steven Izenour
This reading conducts the subject of architecture of communication of space through
form and symbolism using the analysis of the Strip of Las Vegas. Writers Robert Venturi,
Denise Scott Brown and Steven Izenour studies the Strip as a methodology to explain
how form has been forgotten in this place.
They argued that Las Vegas emphasises on the usage of iconography as its main
architectural expression to represent the programs of the buildings. “The strip shows
the value of symbolism and allusion in an architecture of vast space and speed
and proves that people, even architects, have fun with architecture that reminds
them of something else”. - Page 53. An idea of using signages often to identify and
present the importance of these spaces for the sake of commercialism. Built towards the
high speed highways to ensure the buildings’ noticeability for the public to use and
access.
To strengthen this point, they compare the difference between form and symbolism
through examples and architectural styles. For instance “the duck store in the shape
of a duck.” - Page 13. represents that architecture can use abstractive and connotative
ways to define space in terms of form. In an architectural style’s case, modernism
doesn’t use ornamentation but as a sculpture in a similar manner as the example above.
Whereas symbolism is often portrayed using “the false fronts of the Western stores
”-Page 18 hence the signages as of the traditional picturesque style.
Therefore I felt the writers’ viewpoint of the Strip more defining. In such irony that it turns
out that the city is resorting to the traditional architectural style of communicating space
within. Even though Las Vegas may have a modern look by its current appearance of
the city but it does not define the architectural way of enhancing and portraying space. A
clusters of unmeaningful mixtures of media portrayed onto the urbanism of the city.
Word Count: 311 Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Page No.