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Robert Venturi, pioneer of Postmodernism, passes away

Rest In Peace

Robert Venturi, pioneer of Postmodernism, passes away

Robert Venturi in front of a model of the iconic Vanna Venturi House in the early 60's.(Rollin LaFrance/ VSBA)

The family of Pritzker-prize winner and giant of contemporary architecture Robert Venturi has reported to AN that Venturi has passed away at the age of 93. Venturi was a pioneering author of books on architectural theory (especially Learning from Las Vegas and his introduction to the history of Rome) and, along with his wife and partner Denise Scott Brown, founded Venturi Scott Brown Associates—later renamed VSBA. Together they have been credited with ushering in the Postmodern period in architecture. The firm would go on to design a number of important postmodern buildings, many of which are currently under threat, though Venturi himself retired from VSBA in 2016.

Venturi accrued a number of architecture’s highest honors during his life and worked with Eero Saarinen and Louis Kahn during his early career. Besides his Pritzker win in 1991, Venturi was an honorary fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, a Rome Prize Fellowship winner, and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

AN will follow this announcement up with a more complete obituary and remembrances from friends and colleagues in the coming days. Venturi’s family requests that their privacy be respected at this time.

See the following statement from Venturi’s family on his passing:

“Last night, Robert Venturi passed away peacefully at home after a brief illness.  He’s been surrounded by his wife and partner, Denise Scott Brown and his son, Jim Venturi.  He was 93.

The family is planning to have a memorial service to celebrate Venturi’s life and this will be announced in the coming weeks.”
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