Blog 9: Venturi's Complexity and Contradiction Thesis

I chose 3 different buildings from our walking tours around Baltimore that reflect Venturi's thesis.

The first building is City Hall.

City Hall. It is Bozarth style, borrowing from Classical Greek and Roman orders. It has a mansard roof, arched windows, a cupola, pediment, cacophony of details, Corinthian/Composite columns and is 4 stories tall.

The second building is the BMA.

The BMA is neoclassical with Ionic Columns. We decided it was from Greek revival because of the emphasis of the lintel, but it also had Roman qualities. Other characteristics of this structure include: a pediment with relief sculpture, demi-lune fan like windows above the door, a corseted ceiling, 14 courses of block that gets us to the string course, a peripet wall that extends beyond the roof line, architrave, portico, pilasters and bronze doors.


The third building, a Baltimore night club.

This building is a Baltimore Night Club. It was constructed in 1885 according to what it says on the building. It is Richardsonian Romanesque. But also has Gothic details, with the brown stone. The building has exaggerated windows, 3 bays, 2 roof pinnacles, very thick walls, a cornice and a rusticated first floor.