Preview

Louis Kahn's Accomplishments In Architecture

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1519 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Louis Kahn's Accomplishments In Architecture
Louis Kahn, born in 1901, was an American vastly known for his works as an architect. Alongside being an architect, he was an artist, teacher and to a certain extent a philosopher, some might label him as poet and one of the great thinkers of his time. Charles E. Dagit, Jr says ‘His was a genius that profoundly changed the course of architecture worldwide’. (Louis I. Kahn: Architect, 2013, page xi). Louis Kahn’s legacy began from an early age where in high school his teachers immediately noticed Louis developing on his drawings and placed him in courses that nurtured his skills. He progressed his education and talent into architectural studies and received full funding to the University Of Pennsylvania, graduating 1924. He started to work as a senior designer, draughtsman for City of Philadelphia’s architect John Molitor for the Sesquicentennial International …show more content…
Kahn’s buildings, such as the Yale Art Gallery, expressively impacted those confronted them due to his design and wisdom of space and light which worked through the building, similar to Richards medical labs as he combined visual captivating spaces that differed under the renewing light during different intervals of the day. The implication of his works abled Kahn to explore the notions he had about renovating the concept of modern architecture that to him required the ‘monumental and spiritual’ essences of prehistoric buildings. From the ideas discussed above, about his works and in relation to his Medical Labs in Philadelphia to modernism as a whole, it is evident that Kahn was successful in his hopes of reinventing

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The Flatiron Building

    • 354 Words
    • 2 Pages

    As an internationally prominent figure, Daniel Burnham brought ideas from many foreign cultures to America and was a major influence in the development of the idea of grand cities such as New York and Chicago. Burnham was an immensely influential individual, considered the preeminent architect at the start of the 20th century. He has been quoted as saying “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably will not themselves be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work.” (Moore 1921) He was an innovator who was influential in bringing about the concept of a city being beautiful, as well as functional. His designs were heavily influenced by classical Greek and Roman architecture, and he worked in many of his designs to reconcile elements that were seemingly counteractive, such as the practical with the ideal, and business with art.…

    • 354 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Two very different buildings in their typology, The Roy Grounds House (1953) and The National Gallery of Victoria (1968), with one a small residential building and the other a large internationally recognised institution, clearly show how he is constantly practicing values of symmetry and simple geometries(fig#) and some of the specific elements that are continually reproduced and perfected, large eves with and rising undersides (fig#&#), panoramic highlight windows (fig#&#) and centre courtyards (fig#&#).…

    • 480 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    At the end of the Civil War, American society became flooded with new technologies, ethnic groups, ideas, and customs. A society, which had bewildered earlier American visitors with its diversity and complexity, accelerated its already frantic pace. This course identifies and describes some of the “booming, buzzing confusion” of American culture from the Civil War through about 1990 and relates their…

    • 1402 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Chicago Persuasive Essay

    • 656 Words
    • 3 Pages

    One of the greatest pictures of the historical architectural art is the auditorium building of Chicago, which had been considered as one of the greatest leaps in the world of architecture and engineering during the nineteenth century. Although Chicago faced a dramatic misery in the year 1871 due to the great Chicago fire that destroyed most of the infrastructure of the city, this downfall acted as the initial point of the movement towards what's known today as the large,modern city of Chicago. After ten successful years of rebuilding damages of the city, nothing was missing but a grand urban monument to symbolize Chicago, and that's where the idea of The Auditorium building took place.…

    • 656 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Ada Louise Huxtable’s Frank Lloyd Wright: A Life is a thoroughly detailed biography with noteworthy insight into the astoundingly topsy turvey life of one of America’s greatest architectural geniuses: Frank Lloyd Wright. Currently the architectural critic for the Wall Street Journal, Ada Louise Huxtable hails from many other prestigious positions and accomplishments including being a former New York Times critic and winner of both the first Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Criticism and the MacArthur Fellow. She has written several other books on American architecture including On Architecture: Collected…

    • 1847 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    She entered the history of architectural design with a fame spread enormously throughout the world. Her path was not straight and easy; it was wobbly, narrow and full with challenges. She has gone to a lot of effort and expense to be what she is now. She passed through desperate times; she flopped and she thrived. She was the first woman and Muslim to win the prestigious Pritzker Prize, architecture's equivalent of the Nobel Prize and the first woman and Muslim to earn the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize. She ranked 69th on the Forbes list of ‘The World's 100 Most Powerful Women’ in 2008.…

    • 1100 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    - Different angle to separate different areas like doctors’ wing and lounge for different function.…

    • 671 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Hunt was known for designing many lavish and notable buildings by combining historical architectural elements with modern technology. Considered “the dean of American architecture,” Hunt played an important role in shaping and professionalizing the architectural practice and education in the United States (Rose). Hunt’s work and knowledge in architecture, established precedents for education that included formal, intellectual, technical, and professional principles (Rose). The first academic architectural training programs were established in America by a close group of people in Hunt’s circle and were instructed to lead by his…

    • 1945 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    St Wren Cathedral Essay

    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages

    A PLACE FOR THEM, A PLACE FOR US The choir of St. Paul’s, Cathedrals of England and Wales “With a few exceptions, city churches that were rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666 were rebuilt under the direction of Christopher Wren” who combined the renaissance and baroque styles to create St. Paul’s cathedral, an empathetic masterpiece. The sheltering embrace of the dome as one walks through the nave is appeasing yet humbling, creating a sense of place comparable to Bernini’s St. Peter’s colonnade. This essay deliberates Wren’s impact in devising place for a post 1666 London within cultural and contemporary contexts that construe the evolution of the role of the architect. “Architecture is stifled by custom.” Le Corbusier argues.…

    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In the history of architecture, The Chicago School was a school of architects active in Chicago at the turned of the 20th century. Henry Trost was part of a group of architect known as “First Chicago School,” whose work would have a profound effect upon architecture. This two building represented the combination of styles present during the 1900s and also demonstrated that architecture structures were clearly a way of showing prosperity in the different cities in the country. The time was just right for a change of ideas among the architectural world a new movement that was about to revolutionize the way cities, buildings, and even homes were constructed. Industrialization was making its way into the world of structures with new ideas and designing styles. One of the few similarities this building had with The Modern Movement was that buildings had to serve a purpose and they had to be functional. The Palace Theater was made for entertainment and it justify its purpose. The building up to this period of time has manage to survive with a few renovations made during time but is still standing tall, that is one of the great characteristics of those kind of historical structures. Another principle of the Modern movement is that “Form Follows Function” a dictum originally expressed by…

    • 1529 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Many consider The 1893 Chicago’s World Fair as a day that paved the way out of traditional life into modernization. It was considered one of the first cases in history where communication technologies, marketing strategies, and urban planning all interplayed at once. The Ashcan School marked the beginning of when artists began looking past any social constraints in a stylistic manner. They were encouraged to do this by getting out of their comfort zone and venturing into urban areas in order to capture the diversity in neighborhoods that exist.…

    • 1588 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    “Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” Frank Lloyd Wright was an inspiring architect who developed a distinctly style. He created new types of architecture through his creativeness. He had different styles of architecture. Frank Lloyd Wright was the greatest architect of all time. His influence continued and his innovative building style spread around. He created a numerous of buildings in different places and he mostly designed the interior elements. His work was original, unique, living, and modern. Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural career lasted for so long. His work is seen around with different designs and architecture. His work still continues to inspire others. As a result, Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture,…

    • 1348 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The article’s narrative structure demonstrates the Bauhaus’ history in a chronological and geographical manner; initially originating in Weimar (1919-24), moving to Dessau (1925-32), discontinuing in Berlin (1933), and re-establishing as the Institute of Design in Chicago (1937). The author also recognizes important individuals such as the certain faculty members and presents their influences towards the Bauhaus. Meggs’ article remains neutral as it simply states historical facts without questioning any ideas or aspects of the Bauhaus. Although this article is compiled with certifiable information, there are very few arguments being expressed in the article. By simply narrating the history of the Bauhaus, the author provides enough information for the reader to examine and criticize the influences of the…

    • 1011 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Norman Foster Norman Foster is a major contributor to twentieth century architecture both in the westernworld and further afield. After starting his studies in architecture over 50 years ago he has designeda range of buildings (and bridges) and continues to produce outstanding designs today. Aswell asexploring Foster's career this essay will focus primarily on two of Foster's buildings, Creek VeanHouse in Cornwall and the Willis Building in Ipswich (originally the Willis Faber and DumasHeadquarters).Born in Manchester on 1 June 1935 to working class parents, Foster was a bright studentwho after attending a private school and a grammar school was pressurised to leave early in order toearn a living. It wasn't until 1956 after working in a bakery, a city treasurer's office, a factory,selling furniture, spending time in the Royal Air Force on national service and studying commerciallaw that he finally started his studies in architecture. Graduating from Manchester university schoolof architecture and city planning in 1961, Foster won the Henry fellowship to study at Yaleuniversity where he obtained his master's degree and also met Richard Rogers, another Britisharchitect whom he became good friends with. In 1963 Rogers and Foster along with their respective wives Su and Wendy formed 'Team 4', a practice known for its high-tech designs and thegroup behind Creek Vean House. In 1967 Team 4 ended and Foster and Wendy set up Foster Associates (now Foster and Partners). Between 1968 and 1983 Foster collaborated on a number of projects including the Samuel Beckett Theatre project with Richard Buckminster Fuller whohappened to be one of his idols.…

    • 1259 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Louis Kahn was a genius beyond his time. His idea of silence and light separates his architecture from anyone else in history. The ideas spawned by his work challenged many theories before and beyond his time. He used plainness, light and location to shape the design of his buildings. Another concept that was heavily practiced by Kahn, was the use of served and servant spaces. The servant spaces usually housed the lighting, plumbing, and any other entity that made the building functional. On the other hand, the served spaces were the rooms like the laboratories and study rooms which are given functionality through the servant spaces (Manrique, 11/08/04). This concept was practiced through out most of Kahn 's career, but is most notable in his ingenious designs of the Salk Institute and Kimbell Art Museum.…

    • 1151 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays