histories of technology
narrowing the topic of interest
LAS VEGAS
Looking at Learning from Vegas, a 1972 Book by Denise Scott Brown, Robert Venturi, and Steven Izenour.
"Las Vegas was regarded as a "non-city" and as an outgrowth of a 'strip', along which were placed parking lots and singular frontages for gambling casinos, hotels, churches and bars. The research group studied various aspects of the city, including the commercial vernacular, lighting, patterns, styles, and symbolism in the architecture. Venturi and Scott Brown created a taxonomy for the forms, signs, and symbols they encountered. The two were inspired by the emphasis on sign and symbol they found on the Las Vegas strip. The result was a critique of Modern architecture, demonstrated most famously in the comparison between the "duck" and 'decorated shed.' The 'duck' represents a large part of modernist architecture, which was expressive in form and volume. In contrast, the 'decorated shed' relies on imagery and sign."
Hotel and casino catalogue
Gas station, motel, and wedding chapel catalogue
Illumination map
QR CODES
Understanding QR codes as a type of map that can hold data. Developments in this technology now allow it to store different types of data and artistic aesthetics can be integrated within the pattern.
