The paradigm of complexity in architecture after 1966: conceptions of architectural complexity through project descriptions in international magazines

Taking its starting point from Robert Venturi’s seminal work Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture (1966), this research explores the evolution of architectural thought through the lens of complexity—a concept frequently used in contemporary discourse. It explores, too, complexity’s role within the Post-modern movement, not only as its underlying concept but also as one that reflects broader shifts in architectural culture to this day. The research investigates conceptions of complexity featured in contemporary architects’ project descriptions published in six internationally renowned magazines—Architectural Record, The Architectural Review, Domus, L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui, A+U, and El Croquis—between 1966 and 2023 and considers how complexity has been understood by architects and critics, both on its own terms and in relation to architectural production and discourse. By analyzing diverse interpretations and approaches to complexity, the research seeks to address the lack of a common understanding of the term, exploring the premise that Venturi’s principles of complexity remain relevant and reflect a continuing desire for a holistic architecture of depth and pluralism.