Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
17th out of 46 books
—
25 voters
Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture
First published in 1966, and since translated into 16 languages, this remarkable book has become an essential document in architectural literature. As Venturi's ""gentle manifesto for a nonstraightforward architecture,"" Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture expresses in the most compelling and original terms the postmodern rebellion against the purism of modernism....more
Paperback, 136 pages
Published
July 2nd 2002
by Museum of Modern Art
(first published January 1st 1968)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
848)
Probably my favorite architectural theory book read to date. Very easy to understand the key points, and complete a useful system of analysis and framing. The "dialectical narrative" follows that architecture, as lineage, modernism included (in it's best sense), is complex and contradictory. Finis. The greater point is that this implies many other good things about architecture. Balance. Restraint. Nuance and the subjective experience. The post-modern awful used this as a rallying cry, just as t...more
This guy is apparently a genius. This book explains, lucidly and brilliantly, the reasons for "postmodernism"'s existence (note: he doesn't call it postmodernism, another reason I want to cuddle him), the range of its appeal, and even the limitations of taking it too literally as a doctrine or way of practice. Probably the best critical (not fiction) text I have ever read on "postmodernism," or the artistic turn in the later 20th century, despite the attempts of thousands of literary scholars an...more
I read this book a long ago, and I felt really frustrated (though maybe now I understand the irony), because I felt Venturi was incongruent towards the second half of the book (he even contradicts himself), but then I thought "who doesn't?", when it comes to architects, that is (sadly) a very common thing: one can only dream of the perfect world, but reality is the only thing you will get.
As my favourite line read: "This is more or less ambiguous." XD
But don't be misled, it IS a very insightful...more
As my favourite line read: "This is more or less ambiguous." XD
But don't be misled, it IS a very insightful...more
This book is almost the perfect theory book. It really helps you to understand the post modernism, let alone architecture ,but also postmodernism theory of art, writing, music, etc . The first part is amazingly well writen, very well explained and pretty much aprochable to contemporary design and architecture. The 5 five chapters I think every architect should have in mind when designing. I grew up very fond of this book and Robert Venturi in particular after finishing it, however I believe some...more
Should re-read. A tremendous amount of details and constant references. Has to be read slowly.
This book is brilliant - the is not but it's by an architect so cut him some slack.
architettura&arte
good
A reasonable book. Makes a few good points without ever getting profound.
Every architect or architectural student should read it he gives an outstanding historical review of many architectural ideas.... From the first few pages you will learn that complexity and contradiction in architecture is a good thing, less is abroad, more is good!
Why is it that the best theorists are architects who just can't seem to design the type of buildings they advocate?
Jan 12, 2010
Ron
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
all architects and architecture students
Recommended to Ron by:
arthur jones
what more can be said? a font of erudition, wit and passionate, professorial/professional scholarship.
I've never enjoyed an architectural book like this one before.
May 21, 2013
Khushboo Shah
is currently reading it
May 21, 2013
Saro Karadanian
added it
May 20, 2013
Amy
marked it as to-read
May 19, 2013
Aweaweawe heymrdj
marked it as to-read
May 19, 2013
Jon Robertson
marked it as to-read
May 18, 2013
Ellis Knight
marked it as to-read
May 18, 2013
Dora
marked it as to-read
May 17, 2013
Madeleine
marked it as to-read
May 16, 2013
Paul
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
