Robert Venturi and Robert Scott Brown gave out distinct definitions of the duck and a decorated shed, and their definitions gave out the basis for classifying architectural marvels. A duck is an architectural marvel by itself, with inbuilt decorations, which are recognizable by the building itself (Venturi, Scott and Steven 90). On the other hand, a decorated shed is a piece of architecture that cannot be distinguished from its purpose or existence and entails exterior art decorations, which make it appealing to the general public (Venturi, Scott and Steven 92). Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, therefore, produced a book to depict the reasons for ruling some buildings as decorated sheds, while naming others a duck, or an architectural marvel. Many architectural critics have depicted Portland building by Michael Gaves as a decorated shed. Since its establishment about thirty years ago, Portland building has been a basis of critics on the failing innovation in architecture. The judgment is based on various attributes of the Portland building that make it a decorated shed.
First, ornamental elements used in the building are just symbolic. One cannot establish the real use of the building by just looking at it. Ducks like the statue of liberty and St Patrick cathedral in the western hemisphere provide a good example of architectural marvels. Establishing the purpose of such buildings is not a challenge, as their use is perfectly manifested in their art and decorations. Additionally, it is easy to single out decorations that are part of the building and not superficial decors (Venturi, Scott, and Steven 134).
Secondly, Portland building is a decorated shed, as it uses representational art. Architecture calls for the integration of art from the very first blueprint, and should be clearly distinguishable from representational ornaments. Labeling, paneling, painting and external decoration of Portland building is utterly representational. Ducks do not have any form of superficial decoration, but are rather a pure form of art, even from the building blocks that hold them together. In this perspective critiques to the decorated shed architecture have shown that mixed media of art and postmodern characteristics are what deteriorates architecture and innovation.
Moreover, decorated sheds do include not only decorated buildings, but also other pieces of architectural art (Venturi, Scott, and Steven 163). Flaws in its design have obstructed Portland buildings access to the public and view. Portland building does not show any innovation out of the ordinary. Ducks are buildings which give a sense of extraordinary change; such structures include the Washington Square park arch, which is an art in itself. In this accord, ducks are pretty and involve an integration of advanced architectural technology. For instance, the technology used to build the St Patrick Cathedral in the seventeenth century, is quite reputable, given the state of technology in those ages. Even at postmodern perspective, the St Patrick Cathedral can bypass the innovation used in many decorated sheds, such as the Portland building. Postmodern buildings have thus lost their innovativeness, both in structure design and innovation. Portland building has small windows, which are not likely to suit the quest for innovation in the art realm. Ducks like the Washington Square Park, statue of liberty and St Patrick Cathedral have been able to stand the change of times, because of their innovative design and indigenous art.
St Patrick Cathedral (duck)
Portland building
Work cited
Venturi, Robert, Brown D. Scott, and Steven Izenour. Learning from Las Vegas: the forgotten symbolism of architectural form. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1977 print.
