Though the Las Vegas Strip may be garish to some, with its borderline intrusive décor and ?pseudo-historical? architecture, some professional architects, most notably Robert Venturi and Denise Scott-Brown, have become captivated by the ?ornamental-symbolic elements? the buildings present. The two architects developed the curious design distinction between a ?duck? and a ?decorated shed?, depending on the building?s decorative form. In his essay for 99% Invisible, Lessons from Sin City: The Architecture of ?Ducks? versus ?Decorated Sheds?, Kurt Kohlstedt explores how the architects implemented their knowledge of ornamentation in their own works and began an architectural debate still ongoing today.  

Randy?s Donuts shop and sign (a ?decorated shed?) by Extra Medium (CC BY 2.0). Image via 99 Percent Invisible
Though the Las Vegas Strip may be garish to some, with its borderline intrusive décor and ?pseudo-historical? architecture, some professional architects, most notably Robert Venturi and Denise Scott-Brown, have become captivated by the ?ornamental-symbolic elements? the buildings present. The two architects developed the curious design distinction between a ?duck? and a ?decorated shed?, depending on the building?s decorative form. In his essay for 99% Invisible, Lessons from Sin City: The Architecture of ?Ducks? versus ?Decorated Sheds?, Kurt Kohlstedt explores how the architects implemented their knowledge of ornamentation in their own works and began...