Louis I. Kahn: The Construction of the Kimbell Art Museum

by Louis I. Kahn, Luca Bellinelli (Editor), Joseph Rykwert (Contributor)

This publication on the construction of the Kimbell Art Museum by Louis I. Kahn may prove very useful to students, and to anyone interested in gaining further knowledge of the distinctive features of the Kimbell museum. It documents the long and arduous quest that often characterizes a creative process-- even that of a great master such as Louis I. Kahn. The design of the Kimbell Art Museum is the product of extraordinary intuition, and results in a masterly synthesis that solves all the problems posed by the site and the specific purpose of the construction.

The series "I Cataloghi" documents the exhibitions, i.e. reviews undertaken by the Academy of Architecture of the architectural works and events of the 20th century. The initial stages are dedicated primarily to a comparison between the principal figures of this century and contemporary emerging architects. This comparison attempts to trace the link that unites the birth and development of a theory to its subsequent concrete application, along the 'winding path' of research. The exhibitions and their accompanying catalogues aim to offer all readers, not only those attending the Academy, a review of architects and architectural works that have enriched and continue to enrich the discipline of building.

168 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1999

About the author

Louis Isadore Kahn, born Itze-Leib Schmuilowsky, was an American architect, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. After working in various capacities for several firms in Philadelphia, he founded his own atelier in 1935. While continuing his private practice, he served as a design critic and professor of architecture at Yale School of Architecture from 1947 to 1957. From 1957 until his death, he was a professor of architecture at the School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania. Influenced by ancient ruins, Kahn's style tends to the monumental and monolithic; his heavy buildings do not hide their weight, their materials, or the way they are assembled. Louis Kahn's works are considered as monumental beyond modernism.

Reviews

[jw468 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick search on Amazon implies that this book is the longest and likely the most comprehensive monograph covering the Kimbell Art Museum. It Includes a brief history of Kahn, the Kimbell, and the design process; a selection of construction photos; coverage of the “Square-Plan,” the “H-Plan,” and the “C-Plan;” coverage of the final design using several gatefolds with plans, elevations, sections, and details; a selection of contemporary photos; and a bibliography. The drawings are just large enough to be legible; however, reading the notes will sometimes require a magnifying glass.