Robert Venturi, Postmodern Architecture Pioneer, Dies at 93

On September 20, 2018, Robert Venturi, an architect who received the Pritzker Prize, died. Alongside his wife, Denise Scott Brown, he was a prominent advocate for postmodernism, emphasizing the importance of everyday aesthetics and vernacular architecture over grandiose designs. Their pivotal 1972 publication, Learning from Las Vegas, encouraged architects to draw from popular culture. Venturi famously opposed Mies van der Rohe's principle of 'Less is more' by stating that 'less is a bore.' Many of his notable structures, including a 1966 fire station in Columbus, Indiana, were built in less urban areas. In 1991, he created the Sainsbury Wing extension for London's National Gallery and the Seattle Art Museum. His most famous project is the five-room bungalow he constructed for his mother between 1962 and 1964, often credited with initiating the postmodern architectural movement.