Weaving together projects' analysis and interpretations of many important writing, the author explains works of Louis I. Kahn, american-eston architect.
As one of the leading architects of the period following the Second World War, Louis I. Kahn created some unquestioned masterpieces, including the Salk Institute in La Jolla, the Kimbell Museum in Fort Worth, and the Parliament complex in Dacca. A highly skilled builder, shrewd observer and an untiring orator, Louis Kahn did not shy away from the responsibilities which accompanied his chosen career, tackling not only design work but also conducting exhaustive research into the foundations of architecture. By combining an analysis of his designs with a review of some of Kahn’s most important publications, the author looks back on the American Estonian architect’s career, from his early training to the monumental achievements of the 1960’s and 1970’s, in an attempt to capture the essence of the classical style which makes his later work so distinctive. The relationship which Kahn managed to instil with the refined cultural sphere surrounding the figure of George Howe at Yale, the lessons learned from ancient architects having observed Roman ruins during his trip to the Mediterranean in 1951, and his work on site with his engineer colleague August Komendant are just a few of the topics described in this volume. The book also contains an extensive photographic campaign executed specially for the purpose by photographer Alessandra Chemollo.