Ducks and Decorated Sheds - Which is Better?

Venturi’s writings about the “Duck and the Decorated Shed” are particularly interesting when applying them to architecture from various time periods. The Duck–a physical manifestation of form follows function–can appear as a bizarre building that perfectly suggests the activities of its occupants. On the other hand, the Decorated Shed can take on a wide variety of forms and is much easier to convert to a different program in the future. Personally, I am more of a proponent of the decorated shed because it extends the life of a building by allowing for it to be repurposed after fulfilling its original purpose. However, I understand the importance of allowing architecture to act as an icon, a concept that Ducks are better able to achieve. Rem Koolhaas’s Downtown Athletic Club is a perfect example of a Decorated Shed, and if this building was instead a Duck, I think that it would be a much less celebrated piece of architecture.