Task 2- a

Louis Kahn

Louis Kahn, known as “One of the most influential architects of the mid-20^th century” (Design Museum) died swiftly of a heart attack in the year of 1974. He was one of the worlds most admired architects and is known for designing and creating many famous buildings, complexes, institutes and museums around the world today.  Louis Isadore Kahn was born in 1901 on the small Island of Osel, his dad taking him to Philadelphia for work in 1904 and starting high school in 1912, Kahn was first known for his talents in art and music, winning many prizes and scholarships. In 1920 Louis Kahn won a scholarship to study architecture under Paul Cret at the School of Fine Arts at the University of Philadelphia. Graduating from university in 1924 with numerous awards, Louis Kahn was employed as a draughtsman by the architect John Moilter and this was when his famous and successful career began. Embarking on a two-year tour of Europe in 1928, Louis Kahn returned in 1930 marrying his wife Esther Iraell, but had a struggle to find work during the economic depression. In 1935 Kahn started his own independent architectural practice in Philadelphia, but struggling to find work in modest local housing projects, he decided to start teaching at Yale. After teaching at Yale he then became a professor of architecture at the University of Pennsylvania in 1957. Ancient ruins was what influenced Louis Kahn’s uniqueness throughout his designs. Kahn was passionate about not hiding the weight, materials and process undertaken in the final product of his designs. His work was considered “monumental beyond modernism” meaning historic and innovative. Louis Kahn was also known for his genius use of many different materials. For example, in the Kimbell Museum, Fort Worth Texas, which Kahn designed in 1967, he used reinforced concrete. This museum had an urban park setting and was modern. The museum had vaulted ceilings with integrated day lighting and gave off a dull sheen from its lead covered exterior. Refer to image 1 and 2 for evidence.

Image 1: Interior and vaulted ceilings with integrated day lighting.

Image 2: Lead covered exterior.

 

Louis Kahn did address environmental issues whilst designing the Kimbell Museum. Kahn used vaulted ceilings with intergrated day lighting as shown in image 1. This is an effective way in which Kahn tried to save energy (electricty for lights), that did not affect his uniquess. On a whole, Louis Isadore Kahn will always be known for  his provocative unbuilt proposals, his teaching and has has left a legacy of being known as one of the most influntial architects of the 20^th century.