Salk Institute | Louis Kahn
MONUMENTALITY, SERVED SPACES, MEASURABILITY
MONUMENTALITY Kahn believed that architects “could produce buildings which were as monumental and as spiritually inspiring as the ancient ruins of Greece and Egypt” (“Louis Kahn,” n.d.). SERVANT/SERVED SPACES Kahn distinguished “served” spaces which were used for human functions and “servant” spaces which contained mechanical considerations such as reinforced concrete walls and stairwells. MEASURABILITY He also conceived of the “immeasurable, the inspirational insight into the nature of the institution, and the measurable, the means available to the architect to build in his place and time” (McCarter 2005).
“He was capable of handling problems of large size without degenerating into either an ‘additive’ approach or an overdone grandiosity; he knew how to fuse together modern constructional means with traditional methods; he was steeped in history but rarely produced pastiche; and his architecture was infused with a deep feeling for the meaning of human situations, which enabled him to avoid the mere shape-making of the formalists.” - William J. R. Curtis, 1996
Summary
Louis Kahn rejected the use of light materials like steel and glass that appeared in many other Modern or International Style works in favor of heavier materials like reinforced concrete and brick. Many of his buildings were comprised of large, monolithic geometries to convey the sense of monumentality he hoped to achieve. While most other Modern architects were using balanced asymmetry in their floor plans, Kahn often utilized a more classically influenced symmetrical plan for his designs, like the Salk Institute.
Visual Characteristics
Site plan the red are is where the analysis zoom in the most.
4 window 2
reinforced concrete
3
hand rail
2 wood panel
1 Break Down Isometric The isometric breakdown that shown boundary of four laboratory building floors. The location of all boundary that can be compare to the other floors.
window 1
Front Elevation this elevation reveal the labotory wall in brown color which is wooden panel and light grey as solid concrete. Kahn use wooden panel and wall to differentiate the laboratory and normal space.
Side Elevation this elevation is looking from the ocean toward the institution. The blue color is window from the laboratory lab.
First Floor (Wall Boundary) The light blue shapes are represented as human vision area from where him or her stand. The black rectagle shape is standing point that one can see the most enviroment surrounding from under the building.
Private
Private
Laboratory
Second Floor (Wall Boundary) The grey area represented as private area which in this case is laboratory area where scientist perform experiment in a wood enclosed boundary. The brown line is human circulation outside the lab.
Public
Third Floor (Wall Boundary) This floor is open as public area where one can see the multiple
framing view of Louis Kahn work. The flow of it commonly represented as the vein in human body.
Forth Floor (Wall Boundary) the blue shape area are smaller that third floor since it is private area.
Public Space
Negative and Positive public and private space is being deďŹ ned by the opposite and symmetry
ocean
Section of third floor to show the grid array of building that being integrated by the multiple
framing view of the ocean.
ocean
Multiple Framing View the red long rectangle is where one can see throught the building that is on the same grid. (second floor)
Perspective Drawing the simulation of drawing that portray the multiple framing the view of the second floor.
ocean
Multiple Framing View the red rectangle line is located at the ground floor where one can see through the building grid toward the ocean.
Perspective Drawing the simulation of drawing that portray the multiple framing the view of the ground floor.
1 Isometric Ground Floor red color is represented as y-axis, and yellow as x-axis. It shown how Kahn use one wall to reference another wall. His work is base on geometry shape and precision of position of materials and elemens.
2 Isometric Second Floor red color is represented as y-axis, and yellow as x-axis. It shown how Kahn use one wall to reference another wall. His work is base on geometry shape and precision of position of materials and elemens.
3 Isometric Third Floor red color is represented as y-axis, and yellow as x-axis. It shown how Kahn use one wall to reference another wall. His work is base on geometry shape and precision of position of materials and elemens.
4 Isometric Forth Floor red color is represented as y-axis, and yellow as x-axis. It shown how Kahn use one wall to reference another wall. His work is base on geometry shape and precision of position of materials and elemens.
ocean
Center Vein can be seen in all laboratory and is located in the center between both side. It lead to the ocean and become an iconic and aesthetic of Salk Institution.
Perspective Drawing, the view from the ground toward the inďŹ nite view of the ocean. The concealed laboratory is hidden behind the flow of concrete wall.
Perspective Drawing the view from the ocean looking toward the ground. The laboratory can all access the ocean view.