during my free time, i watched this documentary about the architect louis kahn. he died when his son, nathaniel kahn is just 12, barely knowing him. so he practically documented this movie while he embarked on a journey to discover more about his dad. I really enjoyed this movie, so if you’re eager to watch, be sure to go to isohunt and do your stuff (guide’s here)
well, there are three buildings by louis kahn I wanted to talk about; so this one’s salk institute for biological studies in la jolla, california. the building was tectonic and brutalism, done in mostly bare concrete.
tectonic means the focus of details in architecture, together with the appreciation of materials used, in this case, concrete of course
brutalism on the other hand means the style where bare concrete was used in construction, often angled to expose the material where the signs of wooden framework could be seen.
the buildings were orientated in symmetry, but the best thing is that all the laboratories unlike others that were separated, these were connected and open without obstructions, while all of them had a pleasant view of the pacific ocean. this building is not only beautiful, it works too.
louis kahn, then 65 said this was “first building that he was really happy with it”
here is the most inspiring quote I think in the documentary, quoted by i.m. pei on louis kahn’s work;
“architecture has to have the element of time. how can you judge a work today.. let’s say a work by anyone among these architects do you know about is exciting and wonderful. and what will happen to it twenty fivety years later.. that’s the nature. that’s why that’s so centred that always be as perfect as it was considered. the thing could may fade away, probably dead.. but the spirituality of that project will remain. now that will withstand the test of time. no question about it.” i.m. pei, famous for his louvre museum (paris) and bank of china (hong kong).
the second building is the kimbell art museum at fort worth, texas. wikipedia calls this building one of the most epic structures of the twentieth building. and even some says this is the crown jewel of louis kahn, but for me, this ain’t the greatest building by louis kahn.
done in a series of six barrel vaults, all done in reinforced concrete. yes, even the roof. louis kahn made them seem so light as if they were floating on a few pillars. notice the one vault on the left, only supported by two columns!
anyway, the main feature of the kimbell art museum is the lighting. the interior is superbly lighted, thanks to the shape of the barrel vault, focusing the light as if it is a torchlight. louis kahn had this done very well indeed, as light is the main factor in designing an art gallery or museum. believe me, it is much more brighter than it was shown in this photo.
right, prepare for what I consider as the best building by louis kahn. ready to be blown apart?;
jatiyo sangshad bhaban (national assembly building) in dhaka, bangladesh. this is one hell of a concrete monument, so precise and awe-inspiring. I would never have thought concrete can be so much beautiful until I saw this.
ha! now you know how massive the building is, it was a really huge complex, with most of the spaces spanning the whole height. imagine how much wonder you can feel if you were inside. don’t be fooled by the model, the space is not forgotten by light, huge triangular and circular openings allow the penetration of light throughout multiple layer of spaces.
here’s what louis kahn had to say;
“In the assembly I have introduced a light-giving element to the interior of the plan. If you see a series of columns you can say that the choice of columns is a choice in light. The columns as solids frame the spaces of light. Now think of it just in reverse and think that the columns are hollow and much bigger and that their walls can themselves give light, then the voids are rooms, and the column is the maker of light and can take on complex shapes and be the supporter of spaces and give light to spaces. I am working to develop the element to such an extent that it becomes a poetic entity which has its own beauty outside of its place in the composition. In this way it becomes analogous to the solid column I mentioned above as a giver of light.
It was not belief, not design, not pattern, but the essence from which an institution could emerge…”
the amphitheatre facing a pool. if you did not notice, the space was designed in an oval plan. the national assembly building actually won the aga khan award, though in 1989, decades after louis kahn’s death. nevertheless, this masterpiece is always considered as the best monument ever built in bangladesh. louis kahn never saw this building completed, where it was only done after nine years of his death.
it was said that this project costed louis kahn so much, leading to his bankruptcy. as a matter of fact, louis actually died in bankruptcy. so, you could imagine how much effort that architectural genius had spend on this monument. also, did you notice the centre of the plan? that is where bangladesh’s national parliament is held, so have a look into its interior;
right, that’s just the roof of the hall. well, I should say that the camera’s doesn’t have the angle huge enough to capture the whole experience inside the hall. then, you should have to go there by yourself! (wait, I was told the hall was forbidden to visitors, so sneak you way in then!) anyway, you need to watch the documentary at least.
this is probably interesting to you, a question for louis’ son;
That seems to be one of your favorite Kahn buildings. Do you remember seeing it for the first time?
Absolutely. We had a number of friends over there who acted as guides for our crew. When we arrived I told one of them, “I want you to take me to the capital, but I don’t want to see the building until I can really see it.” So the guide said, “Well, why don’t we blindfold you?” As we got near the building, I could actually hear the open space around it. The city of Dhaka is insane. There were rickshaws, crazy baby taxis driving all over the place, a sort of constant chaotic bedlam, and then suddenly off to the right there was this silence. They took me out of the car. The ground got soft. We walked over some grass. Then I could hear birds. The traffic was behind us now. Our guide, whose name was also Kahn, spelled K-H-A-N, asked, “Are you ready?” I said, “Not yet. Give me a minute.” I prepared myself, realizing, This is the last building of my father’s that I’m going to see for the first time. So in a way I was coming to the end of something too. “Ready?” Khan asked again. “Yes,” I said. “Am I facing it?” Khan took off the blindfold and I burst into tears. It was the only time that happened. I’ve been moved by places before, but seeing that building was so astonishing. It’s such an incredible structure. Very pure. Usually it’s hard to end a film. But I knew that when I was in Dhaka the film was over. I knew that we were done, there was nowhere else that I could go. And there’s something wonderful about that because it’s how stories, mythological stories, end. You journey to the end of the earth and find the answer.
hmm, have you ever seen a person burst in tears, overwhelmed by a building? take a look here;
enough? let me end this with louis kahn’s famous quotation:
“I just want to make my last demand in reverence to the work of what has been done by architects of the past. what was, has always been. what is, has always been. and what will be, has always been. such is the nature of beginning.” - louis kahn
by the way, the title does not in anyway imply my architect-idol is louis kahn. it was only a reference to the documentary, go and find the documentary now!
an architectural student from malaysia, studying in limkokwing university of creative technology, pursuing his degree in architectural science
