SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN

Centre for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia

Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Architecture)

THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM [ARC61303] [ARC2224]

PROJECT PART II: ANALYZING AND THEORIZING ARCHITECTURE

Name: Hiew Yen Nee

Student ID: 0314212

Tutor: Mr. Lam Shen Fei

Figure 1: Starhill Gallery (Gallery - Starhill Gallery / Spark Architects - 7 (ArchDaily)

Introduction

The purpose of the study is to theorize architecture based on the analysis of self and

architecture, while in brief, to research and analyse on “what is one doing when one is doing

architecture?”

The studied architect, Robert Venturi , who born June 25, 1925, is a post-

modern architect in United State, which one of the major architectural figures in the

twentieth century. He helped to shape the way that architects, planners and students

experience and think about architecture and the American built environment. He also

contributed some conferences about architecture.

In his theory ‘Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture’, Venturi thinks that

architecture is about to reject and exclude the complexities that appear in architecture. It is

because the building is essentially comprised of different perspective of views or idea which

dealing with outside and inside, movement and function and so on.

The general scope of this study is on the analysis of 3 external contributing factors that

influence Robert Venturi’s architectural thoughts shown in a project, which is the Starhill

Gallery. This building is a luxury retail mall located in the Bukit Bintang shopping district

of Kuala Lumpur. The mall opened in 1996 as Starhill Shopping Centre. So, the three

contributing factors which are analysed are: building form (façade), building material and

circulation.

Façade

Figure 2: Façade of Starhill Gallery (Gallery - Starhill Gallery / Spark Architects - 7 (ArchDaily)

In the theory ‘Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture’, one of the point that

mentioned by Robert Venturi is the phenomenon of ‘Both- and’ in architecture. This point of

theory is talking about the comparisons and the contrast of a thing among an element with

different values. For example, in Le Corbusier’s Shodhan House, the façade seems like

closed yet is an open cube. Besides, the building is precisely closed by its corners, yet it is

randomly opened on its surface (Refer to figure 3).

So, in Starhill Gallery, the crystalline shape of the façade makes the whole building

looks complex, yet the building inside is very simple. The reason of designing a complex

façade for this building is to firmly engaged with the public realm and generates a valuable

visual connections along this section of Bukit Bintang.

Figure 3: Shodhan House (Shodan House by Le Corbusier at GreatBuildings (GreatBuildings)

Besides, the building’s façade provides a lot of visual interest for the pedestrians

while they are walking in front of the shops that attract people attention with its crystalline

skin of glass and stone panels. The crystalline façade with variation of solidity and

transparency transforms the street façade of the existing building entirely which give itself a

new contemporary classic identity that stands out among the other shopping mall’s façades

beside. Furthermore, the shape of the façade breaks out the rigidity of the surrounding

building (Refer to figure 4).

Figure 4: Regular shape vs irregular shape (Starhill Gallery | ArchiTravel (ArchiTravel)

Whereas, for its interior, the arrangement of the spaces are simple as they are

arranged without any use of walls to separate the spaces between each other’s (Refer to

figure 5). Besides, the interior also used simple light fixtures which enhance the simplicity of

the interior of this building (Refer to figure 6). These kinds of interior design give a harmony

feeling for the users when they walk inside the building.

Figure 5: First Floor plan

Figure 6: Interior of Starhill Gallery (Starhill Gallery | ArchiTravel (ArchiTravel)

Circulation

Starhill Gallery is formed by two separate spaces. One of the spaces is used by the

cosmetics brand Sephora while the other space which is an iconic triple height shopping

pavilion is used by a French luxury retailer. These two spaces are separated by a wide- open

walkway on the ground floor and also a bridge which is connected these two spaces on the

first floor. This kind of connection between spaces make a similarity to what Robert

Venturi’s thought which mentioned that separating elements in architecture should be

joined together by not excluding one or the other for the sake of clarity in simplification. It is

because the clarity can lead to a bare and bland architecture which as a result stands alone

separate from the people it accommodates.

Figure 7: Open space in between Starhill Gallery (Gallery - Starhill Gallery / Spark Architects - 7 (ArchDaily)

Besides, in the theory ‘Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture’, one point that

Robert Venturi mentioned is ambiguity. He thinks that ambiguity is easily found in complex

and contradictory architecture. The reason is because people have different way of thought

in architecture. It is because an architectural element is perceived as form, structure,

texture and material, so from these elements, people may think differently. This is how the

ambiguous occurred in architecture. For example, in the floor plan of Villa Savoye, some

might think that the plan is round and some might think that it is a square plan (Refer to

figure 8). So, this is an ambiguous. For Grimsthorpe Castle, the relation to the back pavilions

is ambiguous from a distance, as people might think of whether it is near or far, big or small

(Refer to figure 8).

Figure 8: Floor plan of Villa Savoye

Figure 9: Grimsthorpe Castle (Grimsthorpe Castle (:: Historic Houses Association)

So, for Starhill Gallery, ambiguity also occurred in its circulation. It is because Starhill

Gallery is placed in the road junction, in term of its pedestrian walkway, there are two types

of it. One is from the wider pedestrian walkway then into the in- between space of Starhill

Gallery (Refer to figure 10). While the other types is from the wider pedestrian walkway to a

narrow pedestrian walkway (Refer to figure 11). By having the contrast these of two

circulations, people might think that figure 10 is the main circulation as the width of

walkway is wider than the circulation in figure 11. Whereas some might think that figure 11

is the main circulation as it is near to the main road which people from the opposite area

are easily access to it.

Figure 10: Circulation to Starhill Gallery

Figure 11: Circulation to Starhill Gallery

Figure 12: Contrast of width for the pedestrian walkway (Starhill Gallery / Sparkarchitects (Sparkarchitects)

Building Material

In the theory ‘Contradiction and Complexity in Architecture’, Robert Venturi focuses

on the contradiction and complexity that present in architecture and the society that the

architecture accommodates. He doesn’t much agree with oversimplification in architecture.

For example, he thinks that Mies’s infamous statement on modernism in “Less is more” is

more to “Less is a bore”. It is because the complex behaviour of people and how they move

through their environment is not reflective to one unified or simplified form.

In Starhill Gallery, the materials used are different from the surrounding building as

the neighbourhood buildings are mostly concrete used as their main materials. This makes a

big contrast between these buildings in term of their materials. The architects of this

building, Spark Architects, use the materials of lightweight steel, stone and glass for the

façade. This is the first time for them in Malaysia that embraces cutting-edge façade

technology from the French engineer RFR which is the team that delivered the Pyramid at

the Paris Louvre.

Figure 5: Lightweight steel

Figure 6: Stone cladding

Figure 7: Glass

These materials act as the primary materials as they are largely used throughout the

building. They give an unfinished look to the building which is minimalistic raw and natural,

which is the architect’s intention. The complex used of materials make the building

successful and memorable in appearance when people move through this kind of

environment. Besides, this shows up how people interact differently in architecture. It is

because people are different, so they might respond to an environment that accommodates

for this instinct that responds to changes and chaos. This features in architecture is similar

to Robert Venturi’s theory which mentioned that oversimplication in architecture might

make people ignore their desire in visual stimulation for the building.

Conclusion

In this regard, the three approaches are the considered signs with all the three are

being analysed based one Robert Venture’s theory ‘Complexity and Contradiction in

Architecture’ and then been applied in the chosen building which is Starhill Gallery. All three

factors are analysed based on each points mentioned in the theory. The first is being

analysed by the point of ‘Both-and’ in architecture. The second is being analysed by the

point of ‘Ambiguity’ and the third approach is being analysed based on the thought of

Robert Venturi in the contrast meanings of the building to the surrounding context.

Throughout all the research and analysis of Robert Venturi, I got to know that Robert

Venturi since little had always been curious and enjoys trying out new things instead of

making all the things simple. In ‘Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture’, Robert

Venturi wrote that "I like elements that are hybrid rather than 'pure, ' compromising rather

than 'clean, ' distorted, rather than 'straightforward, ' ambiguous, rather than 'articulated, '

perverse as well as impersonal, boring as well as 'interesting,'. This sentence make me bring

out a thought that the young architect nowadays should practice Robert Venturi’s thought

as by having this kind of thought, we are able to do things beyond our limits and able to

learn more.

Robert Venturi

External Contributing Factors:

Figure 21: Diagrams showing conclusion of study of selected building based on the theory

References

‘Both- and’ in Architecture- the comparisons and the contrast of a thing among an element with different values.

Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture

Focus on the contradiction and complexity that present in architecture and the society that the architecture accommodates; doesn’t much agree with oversimplification in architecture.

Ambiguity is easily found in complex and contradictory architecture.

Starhill Gallery

Facade Circulation Building Material

The crystalline shape of the façade makes the whole building looks complex, yet the building inside is very simple.

There are two types of pedestrian walkway: One is from the wider pedestrian walkway then into the in- between space of Starhill Gallery ; the other types is from the wider pedestrian walkway to a narrow pedestrian walkway.

The building used the materials of lightweight steel, stone and glass for the façade which is different from the surrounding buildings.

Robert Venturi: "Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture" | Interpreted. (2010, August 13). Retrieved June 15, 2015, from https://rebarcollective.wordpress.com/2010/08/13/robert-venturi-complexity-and-contradiction-in-architecture-interpreted/

Complexity and contradiction in architecture by Robert venturi. (n.d.). Retrieved June 15, 2015, from http://www.slideshare.net/SivaRaman1/complexity-and-contradiction-in-architecture-by-robert-venturi

Starhill Gallery / Spark Architects. (2013, March 7). Retrieved June 15, 2015, from http://www.archdaily.com/341299/starhill-gallery-spark-architects

Starhill Gallery | ArchiTravel. (n.d.). Retrieved June 15, 2015, from http://www.architravel.com/architravel/building/starhill-gallery/