Writing and Design (Louis I Kahn)

LOUIS KAHN : A UNIQUE COMMUNICATOR

By "Louis Kahn : A Unique Communicator

1 . INTRODUCTION

The furnace was brimming with fire , but the coals in it looked green instead of red ! That evoked the curiosity of a boy of three , who went close to the furnace and right then the furnace , as if in its own language , wanted to embrace the boy and consequently set him almost on fire ! Finally he was saved but with permanent scars . That was Louis Isadora Kahn 's first meeting with 'light ' - which would culminate into a

unique , inseparable association , and would later make way in his architectural work

Louis Isadora Kahn , the pioneer architect of the world , a vibrant philosopher , teacher and writer , carried on that influence of light all throughout his life , while establishing himself as a finest communicator of his thoughts through his writings , teachings and architectural magnum-opuses . Thus this essay undertakes a journey towards that unique world of Kahn by savouring both his musings and their wonderful architectural versions

2 . BACKGROUND

Perhaps , from the deep well of his subconscious mind , Kahn wanted to translate that dramatic entry of light in his life by making its special presence felt in most of his works , and that might have led him opting for architectural studies . With a foundation of Beaux-arts programme for architecture from the University of Pennsylvania , Kahn excelled in the design process , and finally went on to make his own way , where he could experiment with light in many ways , through spaces between buildings , or through specific placement of windows . This tendency of Kahn is considered as the influence of the classical architecture that he learnt in Beaux-arts , while his penchant for geometric shapes might have been influenced by the pyramids of Egypt

3 . ECHOES OF KAHN 'S WORDS IN HIS ARCHITECTURE

a "I sense Lights as the giver of all presences , and material as spent Light . What is made by Light casts a shadow , and the shadow belongs to Light . I sense a Threshold : Light to Silence , Silence to Light - an ambiance of inspiration , in which the desire to be , to express crosses with the possible . The rock , the stream , the wind inspires (Kahn

a ) A visit to the Richardson Medical Laboratory (1957-1965 ) at the University of Pennsylvania , which is considered as a great example of 'what makes a customized building for the scientists , would take anyone closer to the above thought It was where Kahn meticulously designed spacious rooms and a special room , all basking in natural lighting

b ) All material in nature , the mountains and the streams and the air and we , are made of Light which has been spent , and this crumpled mass called material casts a shadow , and the shadow belongs to Light (Kahn

b ) Salk Institute (1959-1965 ) at La Jolla too bears the testimony of Kahn 's belief in the power of light . Exploiting the Pacific oceans breathtaking view , here again he divided the area into two zones with sets of buildings classically formed around a...