Louis Khan and His Descriptions and Beliefs on Architecture

Tianchi Xu
Professor: Dr. Catalina Strother
ARCH 101-01
3/10/2020
Louis I. Kahn Born in Estonia 1901. He was an Estonian Jewish American architect and architectural educator. In 1905, his family moved to the United States and he grew up in Philadelphia. After working for several companies in Pennsylvania, he had his own studio in 1935. He continued his private business while working as a design commentator and professor of architecture at Yale University From 1947 to 1957. He was also a professor of architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. He died on his way back to the United States from Dhaka in 1957.
Kang created an immortal and holistic style. His heavy buildings did not hide their weight, materials or assembly methods. Kahn's work is considered an immortal work beyond modernism. Kahn was recognized by many architectural historians as the most influential genius and amazing creative architect in the second half of the 20th century. Although he did not reach his unique style before his early 50s, and despite his death at the age of 73, Kang was considered by many to be a palace figure including modernist architects in just 20 years
Without light there is no architecture. (Kahn,47) Kahn believes that when you choose a structure you also choose light. Let light be part of the architectural order. He believes that natural light should be the main light for lighting. He used this well in the design of the kimbell Museum of Art. The reason why we see this colorful world is we have light. Sun created everything on earth. Architecture is one-way people associate with light. Architecture is a management of light. Different materials work with light differently. Window appears darker in the daylight and mirror reflect light. Inside an architecture, the management of light change the feeling of space. The using of naturel light is a good way to achieve sustainability.
Kahn respect the properties of material. Brick structure is a structure with strong compressive ability but weak anti-pull ability. Making this structure an arch maximizes the characteristics of the material. Because in history, great buildings were completed by combining materials and forms. Architecture is a regrettable art. Architects are striving for perfection. The ability of a brick to become an arch reflects its material properties and an option for architects.
“Because after all, the bird of side the person scurrying for shelter in the rain, the leaves falling from the tree, the clouds passing by, the sun penetrating: these are all great things” (Kahn, 47). Kahn believes that schools are not only places with desks and classrooms. Nature have been teaching us many things, somethings we even cannot get from the book. learning seems to be inseparable from nature. Everything we know comes from nature. It is not advisable to replace the windows with walls in ord...