Kahn studied at the University of Pennsylvania under Paul Philippe Cret, the designer of the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., the United States Courthouse in Fort Worth, Texas, the Fine Arts Pavilion (later the Dallas Museum of Art) in Dallas, Texas, and the master plan for the University of Texas at Austin, Texas.
Kahn opened his own office in 1937 during the Depression and focused on low-cost public housing. His work at this time was strongly influenced by the work of LeCorbusier. Years later, after a trip to Rome, he developed his own style. He returned from Rome in 1949 to teach at Yale University, and he received a commission in 1951 for an extension to the Yale University Art Gallery.
He later designed the Richards Laboratories at the University of Pennsylvania, the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, and the Yale Center for British art.
His most important work was the National Assembly Building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a massive structure which took 23 years to finish. Kahn did not live to see the completion of this work. He died of a heart attack in the men's restroom of Penn Station in New York City at the age of 73. It took several days to identify him as the well-known architect, because the only identification he had with him at the time was his passport, which had his address marked out.
To learn more about Louis Kahn, you might enjoy the 2003 documentary film My Architect: A Son's Journey, written and directed by Nathaniel Kahn about his search to understand his father.
From designmuseum.org and kimbellart.org
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| Yale University Art Gallery - New Haven, Connecticut iaskart.com |
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| Richards Medical Research Laboratories, University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania bluffton.edu |
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| Kimbell Art Museum - Fort Worth, Texas metropolismag.com |
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| Salk Institute - La Jolla, California bc.edu |
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| National Assembly Building of Bangladesh - Dhaka, Bangladesh archdaily.com |
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| Esherick House - Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania openbuildings.com |
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| Interior of Esherick House formandwords.com |
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| Interior of Esherick House archilovers.com |
Ahhh sigh relief...... your back!
ReplyDeleteWhat a tranquil interior!
It took me a while to get back on Texas time, but I'm back to normal now. I survived the Retro Cook-Off! :)
DeleteWe're so lucky to have the Kimbell here in Fort Worth. Not only is it a stunning Louis Kahn structure, it's also a world-class art museum.
We had an architect in DC named Charles Goodman. I'm not sure how much he did elsewhere. But I can very clearly see Kahn's influence in his work. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI plan to do a post about Goodman and Hollin Hills very soon. That neighborhood is amazing.
DeleteLooking forward to that, have always admired his work.
DeleteHey Dana, the National Assembly Building in Bangladesh is like a concrete island. Those curved structures at its end remind me of our wheat silos. Out of all of Khan's buildings you've shown us, I like his residential project - the Esherick House, best.
ReplyDeleteLast time I checked, Esherick House was still on the marked, and the price had come down a second time...from the initial price of $1.9M to $1.5 and to $1.25M in September of this year. Richard Wright tried to auction it in 2008, hoping to get $2-3M, but it failed to sell. Although it's 2500 sf, it is only a one bedroom/1.5 bath home.
DeleteWow! Despite the lack of bedrooms I would consider that a bargain. Is it?
DeleteI guess the saying "Location, location, location" is true, even for homes designed by famous architects. I feel sure it would have been sold already if it had been in an affluent New York City or Los Angeles neighborhood/suburb. I'm guessing that the residents of Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania (a Philadelphia neighborhood) expect more house for that money. It's an affluent community, and the average price for a single-family home is over $1M, but I'm betting the average resident prefers a more traditional style and demands more than 1 bedroom for that price.
DeleteThe Salk Institute is down the street and hour or so. I should pop in and check it out. Glad to see you are still in one piece after the Retro Cook Off. I think it took a lot out of all of us. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe Kimbell is about 15 minutes from me, and it's truly one of the most beautifully serene places I've ever been.
DeleteKahn's buildings have a timeless quality about them. The Post Modernism of the 80's looks so dated today. Kahn's Memorial to FDR is under construction now in New York City. Very similar to the Salk Institute opening to the water beyond. Check out pictures on the internet.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware that project was off the shelf. Thanks for the heads-up.
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