Robert Venturi

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the Post-Modernist approach to architecture favored by architect Robert Venturi and how Venturi himself, often called the father of Post-Modernism, influenced its development and even coined the term.

From the Paper:

"In interviews, such as one a while back with Architect Magazine, architect Robert Venturi adamantly states, "I am not now nor ever have been a Postmodernist. I unequivocally disavow fatherhood of this architectural movement." He may say this time and time again. However, other professionals in his field, including Charles Jencks, who is also closely connected with Postmodernism in the late 1970s and 1980s, see it much differently. In his scholarly works covering the history of architecture, Jencks repeatedly acknowledges Venturi for the seminal book Complexity and Contradiction written in 1966. Here, Venturi put the Postmodern ball into motion by suggesting that the style of Modernism had seen the loss of architecture's associative imagery. Regardless if one believes Venturi actually was the originator of Postmodernism or so-called "PoMo" or just influenced others to head in this direction is moot. Either way, he will always be considered "one of the" (if not "the") founding parent(s)."

More papers on Robert Venturi:

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