This presentation explains Sir Louis Kahn's design philosophy and some of his famous projects like The Kimbell Art Museum, IIM Ahmedabad and The Salt Institute

1. LOUIS KAHN SILENCE AND
LIGHT

2. “ARCHITECTURE IS THE ART OF HOW TO WASTE
SPACE.”
BORN : 20TH FEB. 1901 IN PARNU,ESTONIA
DIED : 17TH MARCH 1974
OPENED HIS OWN FIRM IN 1935
CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE’S SOLIDFORMS
‘N’ DURABLE MATERIALS
SIR KAHN’S WORK = TIMELESS FORMS +
MODERN TECHNIQUES

3. PHILOSOPHY
• Kahn’s style tends to be momumental
and monolithic.
• heavy buildings don’t hide their
weight, their materials or the way they
are assembled.
• Geometry in his work : use of
different shapes & lines
• streamline, radical, & futuristic
looking buildings with his bold
technique.

4. ONE OF THE KAHN’S MASTERPIECES-
THE KIMBELL ART MUSEUM
‘ MECCA OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE AND OF
ALL ART GALLERY.’
LOCATION : FORT WORTH,TEXAS
OPENED : 1972
KEY MATERIALS : CONCRETE, TRAVERTINE AND
WHITE OAK
INSPIRED BY : ROMAN ARCHITECTURE –
ROMAN ARCH N VAULT

5. PLANNING
• Basic plan is composed of 16 cycloid
vaults arranged in 3 parallel units of
6,4 and 6.
• simple plan of unadorned, repeated
forms with some variations.
•punctuated by 3 courtyards, allowing
for more light, air flow n
relationships betn interior and
exterior spaces.
• North courtyard: 40 sq. ft.
South courtyard: 20 sq. ft.

6. SITE
PLAN

9. STRUCTURE
“The room is the beginning of
architecture.”
• The cycloid vaults has gently rising
sides, giving the impression of
monumentality.
• It is capable of supporting its own
weight ad withstand heavy pressure.
• Weight of each vault is directed
through 4 columns measuring 2 sq. ft.
• Structure is based on a consistent
mathematical model

10. MATERIALS
“ Natural materials have a way of blending
together.”
• materials that complemented in tone and
surface: travertine, concrete, white oak,
metal and glass.
• reinforced concrete - vaults, walls & piers
• travertine acts as “in-fill” material; having
a swiss-cheese texture, used to emulate
the timeless n monolithic qualities
• over 1million pounds of travertine
sheaths much of interior n exterior walls,
gallery floors, porches & stairs.

11. Lead for roof cover, for its colour, dull sheen
and discreet, natural appearance.
White oak : gallery floors, doors,& cabinetry
Anodized aluminium : soffits & reflectors.
Mill-finished steel : windows n door frames,
elevators, and handrails

12. LIGHTING
“ No space, is a space unless it has
natural light.”
•Cycloid barrel vaults, rimmed with
narrow Plexiglass skylights.
•Pierced-aluminium reflectors shaped
like wings hang below , illuminating
the smooth surfaces of the concrete,
providing elegant light conditions.
•Galleries on the upper floor, for most
natural lighting.

14. IIM
LOCATION : AHMEDABAD
OPENED : 1963
KEY MATERIALS : BRICK, CONCRETE
SITE AREA : 66 ACRES

15. INDIAN INSTITUTE OF
MANAGEMENT, AHMEDABAD
•Separate entries for institutional & residential
complex.
•Auditorium, near main entrance for easy
access for visitors.
•Residential areas in hierarchical pattern.
•School building is planned around a court.
•School building & students dorm have been
placed diagonally to take advantage of winds
from southwest.
•Brick has been used for entire complex walls,
columns, arches.
•Use of concrete has been restricted to
foundations, floor slabs.

17. LIBRARY
Ground floor: Stores and administrative area.
First floor: issuing counter, reference book.
Second floor: Triple height reading hall.
Third floor: Volumes and journal section.
Fourth floor: old books section.

18. VIKRAM SARABAI LIBRARY

19. CLASS ROOM
•Lobbies, in between classrooms
to provide entry & serve as spots
where students can meet.
•Shape : hexagonal & seats, placed
at different levels.
•Windows are high to get glare
free light.
•The design of the class room is
seminar type interaction between
the students and the faculty.

20. FACULTY BLOCK
•Four storey building
comprising of four blocks.
•All four blocks are joined
together by a corridor.
•Arched openings in the
corridor.
•10 rooms on each floor of one
block

21. DORMITORIES
• shape of each : square
•Joined by two residential
wings.
•The position of the
staircase and washroom
are meant to protect the
living room from sun and
glare without obstructing
the breeze and
ventilation.

22. LOUIS KAHN PLAZA
•Instead of small
courtyard, one large court
has been planned in the
center.
•The Louis Kahn plaza is a
raised platform in the
court which is 120 feet
wide.
•It serves the function of a
stage on formal occasions
with large gatherings.

23. AUDITORIUM
• close to the main entrance
near the parking area for easy
access.
• capacity of 550 seats,
accommodated in a
combination of stepped and
flat floors.
• 2 sets of spiral staircases in
the foyer for circulation.

24. SALK INSTITUTE - A BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
CENTER
LOCATION : SAN DIEGO,CALIFORNIA
OPENED : 1957
KEY MATERIAL : REINFORCED
CONCRETE,
POZZOLANIC CONCRETE
PHILOSOPHY : TO CREATE INSPIRING
ENVIRONMENT FOR SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH AND BETTERMENT OF
MANKIND

25. PLANNING
• 6 floors with 3 levels
housing the laboratories.
•Each laboratory block has 5
study towers
•4 offices in each tower
•except for those near
entrance to the court, which
only contain 2

27. STRUCTURE
• 2 symmetric buildings with a stream
of water flowing in the middle of a
courtyard that separates the two.
• building themselves have been
designed to promote collaboration,
and there were no walls separating
laboratories on any floor.
• lighting fixtures designed, easily
slide along rails on the roof in the
collaborative

28. • two buildings, mirrored around a
open Plaza which forms a strong linear
axis with the Pacific ocean on one end
& entrance on other .
•A diagonal wall allows each of the 36
scientists using the studies to have a
view of the Pacific.
•every study is fitted with a
combination of operable sliding glass
panels.

29. MATERIAL
• concrete, teak, lead, glass & steel as
his material palette.
• made in exposed concrete, walls are
unfinished showing clearly the
shuttering marks & also tie rod holes.
• imperfections formed in concrete
surface during casting were left as such
& were not covered up and finished,
maintaining integrity of the material.

30. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, DHAKA
MAIN STRUCTURE
OPENINGS INTERIOR

31. RICHARDS MEDICAL CENTER
MATERIAL :
REINFORCED CONCRETE
LOCATION : PHILADELPHIA
AREA : 2.8 ACRES