Listen to These Words of Wisdom from Denise Scott Brown, the “Grandmother of Architecture”

Denise Scott Brown and Robert Venturi have been announced joint winners of the 2016 AIA Gold Medal; hailed by the Institute for “built projects as well as literature that set the stage for Postmodernism and nearly every other formal evolution in architecture.”

It is a fitting tribute to one of the most influential partnerships in architectural history and follows the duo’s A+ Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Architizer at last year’s A+Awards Gala. This charming short film sees Scott Brown reflect on this honor, the couple’s extraordinary career, and advice for young architects as they set out on their professional journey:

In only two and a half minutes, the “Grandmother of Architecture” dispenses some golden nuggets of wisdom that every student and practitioner of architecture can learn a great deal from. Here are seven of the best. Which quote is your favorite?

Robert and Denise; via Uncube

“There is no immaculate conception of ideas. Collaboration is the truth of architecture.”

Vanna Venturi House, via StudyBlue

“I became addicted to practice … We have learned from everything around us — going from learning to teaching and from teaching to making.”

Photo courtesy of Venturi, Scott, Brown Associates

“In the end, the real rewards are seeing people use your buildings the way you had hoped they would, and, then, seeing them go on and use them in ways you could never have imagined.”

Provincial Capitol Building, Toulouse, France;. photo by Matt Wargo; via Designboom

“Bob would not be who he is, and I would not be who I am, our work would not be what it is without each other.”

Photo courtesy of Venturi, Scott, Brown Associates

“What would my advice to a new architect be? Think again! If you really have to do it, then give it everything you’ve got.”

Vanna Venturi House; photo courtesy of Venturi, Scott, Brown Associates

“There’s nothing like seeing a building that’s been in your mind, and, then, there it is in reality. It makes you want to weep.”

“I have given myself the name ‘Grandmother of Architecture,’ and, as a grandmother of architecture, I am tucking it in bed, well set for the next hundred years.”

Are you the next Robert Venturi or Denise Scott Brown? Submit your best projects to the A+Awards, now, and get recognized on a global stage. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

Author: Paul Keskeys

Paul Keskeys is Editor in Chief at Architizer. An architect-trained editor, writer and content creator, Paul graduated from UCL and the University of Edinburgh, gaining an MArch in Architectural Design with distinction. Paul has spoken about the art of architecture and storytelling at many national industry events, including AIANY, NeoCon, KBIS, the Future NOW Symposium, the Young Architect Conference and NYCxDesign. As well as hundreds of editorial publications on Architizer, Paul has also had features published in Architectural Digest, PIN—UP Magazine, Archinect, Aesthetica Magazine and PUBLIC Journal.

Listen to These Words of Wisdom from Denise Scott Brown, the “Grandmother of Architecture”

“There is no immaculate conception of ideas. Collaboration is the truth of architecture.”

“I became addicted to practice … We have learned from everything around us — going from learning to teaching and from teaching to making.”

“In the end, the real rewards are seeing people use your buildings the way you had hoped they would, and, then, seeing them go on and use them in ways you could never have imagined.”

“Bob would not be who he is, and I would not be who I am, our work would not be what it is without each other.”

“What would my advice to a new architect be? Think again! If you really have to do it, then give it everything you’ve got.”

“There’s nothing like seeing a building that’s been in your mind, and, then, there it is in reality. It makes you want to weep.”

“I have given myself the name ‘Grandmother of Architecture,’ and, as a grandmother of architecture, I am tucking it in bed, well set for the next hundred years.”

Are you the next Robert Venturi or Denise Scott Brown? Submit your best projects to the A+Awards, now, and get recognized on a global stage. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

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“There is no immaculate conception of ideas. Collaboration is the truth of architecture.”

“I became addicted to practice … We have learned from everything around us — going from learning to teaching and from teaching to making.”

“In the end, the real rewards are seeing people use your buildings the way you had hoped they would, and, then, seeing them go on and use them in ways you could never have imagined.”

“Bob would not be who he is, and I would not be who I am, our work would not be what it is without each other.”

“What would my advice to a new architect be? Think again! If you really have to do it, then give it everything you’ve got.”

“There’s nothing like seeing a building that’s been in your mind, and, then, there it is in reality. It makes you want to weep.”

“I have given myself the name ‘Grandmother of Architecture,’ and, as a grandmother of architecture, I am tucking it in bed, well set for the next hundred years.”

Are you the next Robert Venturi or Denise Scott Brown? Submit your best projects to the A+Awards, now, and get recognized on a global stage. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

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