monumental architecture

Monumental Architecture By Louis I Kahn

INTRODUCTION:

Full Name : Louis Isadore Kahn 

Original Name : Itze-Leib Schmuilowsky

Nationality : American

Born : February20,1901 Kuressaare, Govt.of Estonia Russian Empire

Died : March17,1974(aged73) due to heart – attack Pennsylvania station, New York city.

1901: Born in Osel, Estonia 

1905: Came to Philidelphia, USA 

1928: Studied classical architecture in Europe 

1937-1939: Participated in Public Housing Projects 

1947: Taught at Yale Univ. 

1955: Taught at Univ. of Pennsylvania 

1965: F.A.I.A. Medal of Honor Danish Architectural Association, 

1971: Gold Medal, A.I.A., 

1972: Royal Gold Medal for Architecture, R.I.B.A.,  1974: Passed away 

B a c k g r o u n d   T i m e l i n e

CAREER:

He trained in a rigorous Beaux-Arts tradition, with its emphasis on drawing, at the University of Pennsylvania.

After completing his B.Arch in 1924, Kahn worked as a senior draftsman in the office of City Architect John Molitor.

From 1929-1940, Kahn worked in the offices of Paul Philippe Cret, his former studio critic at the University of Pennsylvania and in the offices of Zantzinger, Borie and Medary, George Howe, German born architect Oscar Stonorov,  in Philadelphia.

Kahn's teaching career began at Yale University in 1947, and he also worked as Professor of  Architecture and Planning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1962 and at the University of Pennsylvania in1966 and was also a Visiting Lecturer at Princeton

University from 1961 to 1967.

PAUL PHILIPPE CRET ZANTZINGER GEORGE HOWE OSCAR STONOROV

“The sun never knew how great it was until it hit the side of a building” Louis Kahn

INFLUENCES:

Kahn did not find his distinctive architectural style until he was in his fifties.

Initially working in a fairly orthodox version of the

International Style, a stay at the American Academy in Rome in the early 1950s marked a turning point in Kahn's career.

The back-to-the-basics approach he adopted after visiting the ruins of ancient buildings in Italy, Greece, and Egypt helped him to develop his own style of architecture influenced by earlier modern movements.

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.

Early Learning Ground:

1) Philadelphia- hometown : Laboratory for the development of his own Architectural principles

2) Structural laws : Foundation for the renewal of architecture

3) Landscape : Nature source of inspiration for Kahn

Five elements of Louis Kahn’s work:

1) The Sense of Composition2) Reverence of material3) Sense of “room” – plan a society of rooms4) Light as a maker of architecture5) Architecture of Connection

Kahn’s work shows both

Modernism and Post-modernism

Who influenced Kahn?

• Paul Cret, his supervisor during studies at Pennsylvania.• Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

''Even A Brick Wants To Be Something'' - Louis Kahn

CONCEPTS:

He believe that the buildings function should determine the space that is going to be created, in consequence color, materials, acoustic, rhythm, and the project’s circulation will depended on the essence of the creation.

The importance of his buildings is due to the almost perfect integration of mass and shape. For Kahn, mass was always analyse rationally as a question of destruction. Well space was to find more mystically in terms of natural light.

Kahn used material’s natural color and texture to emphasize the importance of light in his compositions.

For Kahn it was natural light that brought Architecture to life. The artificial light had a very good quality in contrast to the ever changing daylight.

Working with simple materials especially Brick and Concrete. Kahn apply his principles to create buildings in steel with a spiritual quality for which he put great efforts through a masterful sense of spade and light.

He designed so as to be responsive to function, disciplined in structure, expressive in articulation and geometry, concerned with space and the nature of space, with light and introduction of light.

His concept of served and servant spaces is a realization of the separation between Equipment space and use space. This statement about the destination between “servant and served spaces” coined to apply to the new hierarchy of spaces..

For Kahn, form is the realization of appropriateness that brings conceptional strength and unity to his Architecture.

He was also well known for his Brutalist aesthetic and juxtaposing materials.

Kahn’s buildings are strong, unique, and rhythmic.

He uses just a few materials to center our attention on the geometric position. So, when it comes to Architecture and Design, Geometry is the fountainhead of his great work.

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CHRONOLOGICAL EVOLUTION OF WORKS:

Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut,(1951–1953), the first significant commission of Louis Kahn and his first masterpiece, replete with technical innovations. For example, he designed a hollow concrete tetrahedral space-frame that did away with the need for ductwork and reduced the floor-to-floor height by channeling air through the structure itself. Like many of Kahn's buildings, the Art Gallery makes subtle references to its context while overtly rejecting any historical style.

The Richards Medical Research Laboratories, located on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. The building is configured as a group of laboratory towers with a central service tower. Rather than being supported by a hidden steel frame, the building has a structure of reinforced concrete that is clearly visible and openly depicted as bearing weight. Built with precisely-formed prefabricated concrete elements, the techniques used in its construction advanced the state of the art for reinforced concrete.

The Salk Institute, La Jolla, California, (1959–1965), was to be a campus composed of three main clusters: meeting and conference areas, living quarters, and laboratories. Only the laboratory cluster, consisting of two parallel blocks enclosing a water garden, was actually built. The two laboratory blocks frame an exquisite view of the Pacific Ocean, accentuated by a thin linear fountain that seems to reach for the horizon.

First Unitarian Church, Rochester, New York (1959–1969):Kahn's idea of the building began with a concept sketch that represented his understanding of Unitarian aspirations, with several concentric circles surrounding a central question mark. This led, through several iterations, to the final design in which the sanctuary is surrounded by a corridor and classrooms. The problem of bringing natural light into the central space was solved by the four light towers which are perhaps the most distinctive feature of the building.

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad,  (1962).The old campus was designed by Louis Kahn, who was an exponent of exposed-brick architecture. The most distinctive features of the main structure are the numerous arches and square brick structures with circles carved out in the facade.

Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban (National Assembly Building) Dhaka, Bangladesh (1962–1974),Kahn's key design philosophy optimizes the use of space while representing Bangladeshi heritage and culture. External lines are deeply recessed by porticoes with huge openings of regular geometric shapes on their exterior, shaping the building's overall visual impact

Phillips Exeter Academy Library, Exeter, New Hampshire, (1965–1972)It is famous for its dramatic atrium with enormous circular openings into the book stacks. Kahn made the building's exterior relatively undramatic, suitable for a small New England town. Its facade is primarily brick with teak wood panels at most windows marking the location of a pair of wooden carrels. The bricks are load-bearing; that is, the weight of the outer portion of the building is carried by the bricks themselves, not by a hidden steel frame.

Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas, (1967–1972), features repeated bays of cycloid-shaped barrel vaults with light slits along the apex, which bathe the artwork on display in an ever-changing diffuse light.

Monumental Architecture

In English the word "monumental" is often used in reference to something of extraordinary size and power, as in monumental sculpture, but also to mean simply anything made to commemorate the dead, as a funerary monument or other example of funerary art. The word comes from the Latin "monere," which means 'to remind', 'to advise' or 'to warn.‘

“Monumental architecture, to archaeologists refers to large man-made structures of stone or earth. These generally are used as public buildings or spaces, such as pyramids, large tombs, large mounds(but not single burials), plazas, platform mounds, temples, standing stones, and the like. The defining characteristic of monumental architecture is typically its public nature--the fact that the structure or space was built by lots of people for lots of people to look at or share in the use of, whether the labor was coerced or consensual.”

But monumental architecture can also include anything large and made by humans. Some examples include Stonehenge, the Giza Pyramids, the Hagia Sophia, Poverty Point earthworks, and Chankillo observatory.Buildings designed as landmarks, usually built with extraordinary feature such as tallest, largest or distinctive design – such as the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest structure as the landmark of Dubai.

Structures created for others purposes that have been made notable by their age, size or historic significance may also be regarded as monuments. This can happen because of great age and size, as in the case of the Great Wall of China, or because an event of great importance occurred there such as the village of Oradour-sur-Glane in France. Many countries use Ancient monument or similar terms for the official designation of protected structures or archeological sites which may originally have been ordinary domestic houses or other buildings.

Monumental Architecture

• “Monumental architecture is any architecture that’s scale and elaboration exceed the requirements of any practical functions that building is intend to perform.” (-Trigger) and includes pyramids, coliseums, temples, shrines and palaces. These structures reflect the power of political leaders and elites who organized their construction.

• “Monuments are ideological statements about social and political relations. These statements are usually assumed to express relations of power and especially domination/subordination, but may they also represent elements of social integration.”(-Pillock) This is significant, especially when only evaluating architecture and maps in situations when little or no excavation has been conducted.

Monumental Architecture

Types of Monumental Architecture:

• Plaza,• Pyramid,• Temples and Shrines,• Astronomical Observatory,• Synagogue or Church,• Megalithic Tombs and Monuments,• Large Shell Mounds called Megamiddens.

Examples:

JATIYO SANGSHAD BHABAN

Type - National Assembly Building

Architectural style - Modern

Structural system - Reinforced concrete

Location - Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Started - 1961

Completed - 1982

Total Area - 200 acres (8,00,000 sq.m.)

It is one of the largest legislative complexes in the world. It houses all parliamentary activities of Bangladesh.

He designed the entire complex, which includes lawns, lake and residences for MP’s.

LAKE ROADROKEYA SARANI ROAD

MANIK MIA AVENUEMIRPUR ROAD

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY:

Kahn's key design philosophy optimizes the use of space while representing Bangladeshi heritage and culture.

External lines are deeply recessed by porticoes with huge openings of regular geometric shapes on their exterior, shaping the building's overall visual impact.

The main building (the Bhaban) is divided into three parts:

The Main Plaza : 76,000 m² South Plaza : 21,000 m² Presidential Plaza : 6,000 m² Consists of 9 individual blocks: the 8 peripheral blocks - height of 33.5m the central octagonal block - height of 47.2m All 9 blocks include different groups of functional spaces and have different levels,

inter-linked horizontally and vertically by corridors, lifts, stairs, and circular areas. The entire structure is designed to blend into one single, non-differentiable unit, that

appears from the exterior to be a single story.

PLAN OF THE MAIN BUILDING

THE MAIN PLAZA:

The most important part of the Main Plaza is the Parliament Chamber, which can house up to 354 members.

There are also two podiums and two galleries for VIP visitors.

The Chamber has a maximum height of 35.6m with a parabolic shell roof.

The roof was designed with a clearance of a single story to let in daylight.

Daylight, reflecting from the surrounding walls and octagonal drum, filters into the Parliament Chamber.

The artificial lighting system has been carefully devised to provide zero obstruction to the entry of daylight. A composite chandelier is suspended from parabolic shell roof. This chandelier in turn consists of a metallic web, spanning the entire chamber, that supports the individual light fixtures.

Upper levels of the block (that contains the Chamber) contain the visitor and press galleries, as well as communication booths, all of which overlook the Parliament Chamber. The block also contains: at level one, a library; at level three, MPs’ lounges; and at the upper level, party rooms.

THE SOUTH PLAZA

The South Plaza faces the Manik Mia Avenue. It gradually rises to a 6m height and serves as a beautiful exterior as well as the main entrance to the Parliament Building. It contains: controlling gates; a driveway; a main mechanical plant room; a telephone exchange; offices of maintenance engineers; equipment stores; and an open plaza with steps and ramps leading directly to the main building.

PRESIDENTIAL PLAZA

The Presidential Plaza lies to the North and faces the Lake Road. It functions as an intimate plaza for the MPs and other dignitaries. It contains marble steps, a gallery and an open pavement.

MATERIALS:

The predominant materials are the concrete and red brick exterior that give the image of the complex

The great mass of concrete lined with strips of marble, marked by the outer wall openings and the predominance of geometric forms of circular and rectangular concrete offer a great tribute to the building.

STRUCTURE:

One cannot find a column inside the building. The columns have disappeared inside the divisive elements that have adopted the function of bearing walls.

It's more like a large mass of concrete that has been digging and sculpting itself to achieve a perfect functional entity.

One of the most important considerations to take into account during the project was protection from the sun and heavy rains and at the same time allow the free circulation of air. This was achieved by giving the facades at grade geometric openings in the form of triangles, rectangles, circles and arcs.

It avoids any conventional method of placing the windows on the outside as well as the disadvantages of the composition of a typical monument building.

SUMMARY:

If we look at the history of architecture since its beginning, say from the time of the pyramids to modern times, and make a list of the most significant buildings, it is likely that the National Assembly of Bangladesh will occupy quite a prominent position. One could say that it was the culmination of the modern period of architecture and the beginning of the post-modern era.

Artificial lighting system Natural lighting

SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES

INTRODUCTION:

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is perhaps the most poetic and largest Kahn building in the United States.

Kahn made numerous proposals for its master plan before deciding on the version developed.

However, in 1965, the master plan had not been completed and missing to build houses for staff and other auxiliary structures.

CONCEPT:

The project did not have a formal program starting to work on, but emerged from discussions between client and architect.

Kahn managed to persuade the customer that it was necessary to create two separate environments

(1) Consists of cells of well-furnished patio in front of a home and community (2) Gallery space with good services.

SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIESPACIFIC OCEAN

SITUATION:

Located in La Jolla, California, USA, on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The city of San Diego provided the ground for the Institute. Salk offered various locations from which to choose and Kahn took with him to help him

choose. The site chosen is a great spot located on a cliff on the coast in the area of La Jolla.

SCHEME ONE

The Salk Institute project went through three phases.

FIRST PHASE:

In the first phase of the project, Kahn designed a tower that would be in the labs.

They also placed a building known as the Meeting House, a place to organize meetings, which had a cafeteria and other services.

There would be a recreation room in which workers would relax, placed in the top of the cliffs, like the earlier buildings, and finally a housing placed in the bottom of the cliff.

These four buildings are separated from each other, communicating via external deambulatorios.

The Difficult Whole

SCHEME TWO

SECOND PHASE:

In the second phase of the project, Kahn reduced the height of the laboratories gave more area and divided into three pavilions.

The Meeting House, recreation rooms and housing were also placed in the same places that the first phase.

The laboratories, the Meeting House and the rooms are served by leisure deambulatorios field.

Kahn said that scientists need places to rest and relax from work talking about other issues. It is for these reasons that designed the Meeting House, recreation rooms and a small number of studies next to the laboratories.

These spaces have a different dimension to the formal work space, the studies had carpeting and wood, while the laboratories had glass and metal.

Surrounding the laboratories, and the height of the second and fourth floors were the studies, some medium-sized rooms for the rest of the workers.

The Difficult Whole

FINAL SCHEME

THIRD PHASE:

The third phase of the project was the final.

In it, the laboratories are divided into two blocks separated by a plaza.

At this stage there are three floors for laboratories and three mezzanines situated in the middle of the previous hosting facilities.

These floors are higher than those designed in the second phase, so that they can walk upright, although its use is the same.

PLANS AND SECTIONS

ARCHITECTURE:

The major design influence on the structure that consists of two symmetric buildings with a stream of water flowing in the middle of a courtyard that separates the two.

The buildings themselves have been designed to promote collaboration, and thus there are no walls separating laboratories on any floor.

There is one floor in the basement, and two above it on both sides.

STRUCTURE:

The beams of the floors of underground labs are huge, each have a structure that leaves large holes and can lead to "bounce" to be flexible and thus more resilient earthquakes, because California is in an area of high seismic activity.

MATERIALS:

The highly controlled shuttering of concrete on site creates a sleek surface modulation that sometimes overlap with teak wood panels, giving scale to the courtyard and a monumental sense of grandeur to the entire complex.

The facades are made of concrete poured, and it is more flexible and more resistant to earthquakes.

The wood is teak study, rather sensitive to environmental extremes.

The laboratories have some glass windows and an exterior corridor that passes between them and the inner courtyards formed by the studies.

Thank You

1.What’s Monumental Architecture? Write its classification.Describe important characteristics of Monumental Architecture.2. Describe Ar.Louis I Kahn’s Ideologies and philosophies; prove that he’s a pre-modernist.3. Describe one of his monumental project’s design philosophy and give reasons why its monumental architecture.