Louis Kahn: The secrets of projects never built.

useroperator

One of my favorite architects, Louis Kahn, has made some great....if not interesting modern architecture, and is unarguably one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. The Washington University hosted a competition in the 50's to build a library, but they went with another design. If it had been built, it would today be a huge asset worth a fortune to the university. Keep in mind, a simple, one room house built by Louis Kahn sold for millions alone.

At first glance there isn't really anything special about the design, it actually looks rather primitive. It's alluded as a pyramid design, but it's blocky and very simplistic.

But what I found most interesting about it, was when I modeled it, I could then fully realize the architects intentions of the design. There was quite a bit more to the design elements than I expected. I did add some of my own minor detail changes, but the over all shape and placement of elements are identical. It's possible that the actual materials used would have been primarily stone slabs and brick of gray and tan coloring. The model is not fully complete.....and it's virtually impossible to infer what the inside would have looked like.

When the building is viewed as if a person from ground level, that's when you start to notice the architects vision.

There's a few things going on with this building.

When viewed from ground level, the building does take on a more triangular pyramid shape with some interesting lines/shapes going on in the center. This design element is very indicative of a Louis Kahn style if you've seen his other work, even if not his best work. So even though it may look like a blocky pyramid from above or the side, it wouldn't look like that from a ground level.

The building also plays with reflection, when viewed where the entrance would be (the central inner corners), the reflection off the glass created a kind of ghost silhouette reflection down the center. Much of the buildings qualities seem to be focused in this area, which is probably why he chose that area to be the entrance.

Another interesting element is how the building plays with light. If the inner corners of the building are aligned with the suns rotation, which is probably what Louis Kahn most likely intended, as the sun passes over the pyramid and sets, it reflects off of each floor and lights up the panels in the windows, creating a light pattern effect to those seeing the building. Floor by floor gets lit up.

Then there's a final element. Once the sun reaches full sunset, the reflection angles are such that the entire buildings window panels get lit up all at once, which would make the building shimmer almost like rows of jewels as the sky goes dark. With your back to the sunset facing the building, this would make the building look almost as if it was artificially lighted all over.

If you would like to read a little more about this: http://socks-studio.com/2013/11/19/an-unbuilt-project-by-l-kahn-the-library-of-the-washington-university/

Three Wishes

I really, really like this concept.

When I was younger, I was all about the high-rises. The higher and flashier, the better.

I think RW economics and environmental issues are gradually compelling the West away from high-rises (or, as a friend of mine puts it who is heavily into urban sustainability issues, "****-waving contests") and and toward more mid-rise buildings, which I've decided are the best of both worlds: They enable the designers who are bold and talented enough to do expansive, envelope-pushing themes, and yet they also maintain more of an intimacy. I know I think of the inhabitants of the 5-story condo down the street as "neighbors." The people in the nearest 25-story super condo? Not so much. Some of that is proximity, but not all.