The Significance and Associated Values of Louis Kahn's Salk Institute

The Significance of Salk Institute by Louis Kahn in Modernism History
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The Significance of Salk Institute by Louis Kahn in Modernism History
Introduction
The Salk Institute is one of the major masterpieces of modernism art completed in 1965. The building is currently a center for biological studies in California. The Salk Institute is one of Louis Khan's works that combine international significance with modern architecture. Each of the wings has offices that mirror one another on each side of the paved plazas. The main design feature of the building is the separation between the study paces in each of the wings. Louis named this architecture the "oak table and rug" another important component of the building is the concrete walls used to separate the study spaces. The building has individual window walls that have been constructed with soft framing, teak, and interior oak. These materials were used to cut the huge expenses of using stainless steel in the construction industry. However, the laboratories were made using stainless steel to help people differentiate them from the private study areas. The study spaces have sliding light fixtures that allow a person to control the room's amount of light. The Salk Institute is one of the modernist art masterpieces with a lot of significance in American history. Therefore, this paper will discuss the significance of the Salk Institute, its contribution to America's cultural transition, the changes made to create or change it, and the people involved.[Càndito, Cristina. "The Role of Geometry in the Architecture of Louis Kahn and Anne Tyng." In Faces of Geometry. From Agnesi to Mirzakhani, pp. 57-66. Springer, Cham, 2020.] [Goldstein, Brian D. "Obsolescence: An Architectural History by Daniel M. Abramson." In Buildings & Landscapes: Journal of the Vernacular Architecture Forum, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 100-102. University of Minnesota Press, 2017.]
Period of significance
Completed in 1965, the Salk institute played a major role in American history by offering a space that could be used for biological research. The idea of constructing such a building was put across by Dr Jonas Salk, whose main achievement was developing the polio vaccine. The doctor wanted an ambient space with a modern architectural design where he could facilitate his biological research. Dr Jonas had already witnessed the effectiveness of the polio vaccine in the prevention of disease. Therefore, he aimed to build an institute that would facilitate scientific research to help prevent diseases among humanity. The Salk Institute, therefore, plays a significant role as a center for biological research. All the research carried out within this institute is aimed at prolonging human life through disease control. Such makes the building one of the most important in the history of biological innovations. Many people know the building due to its architectural design, while others know it is a center for biological studies. The building was listed among those that played a role in changing modern life. In 1992, the Salk Institute received an award from the American Institute of Architects as one of the constructions that combined international significance with modern architect...