POLITECNICO

DI MILANO

Clients:Usageofintentarchitecturaldesignanddetailtoaccomplish
complexdemandsofclients.

WorkofLouisI.Kahnduringtheyearsof1960968.

Simonaabanov850815,KatarnaRuekov859471,ViktriaZacharov851007
7/6/2016

HistoryofContemporaryArchitectureFedericoDeambrosis

WorkofLouisI.Kahnduringtheyearsof1960968.

Clients:Usageofintentarchitecturaldesignanddetailtoaccomplishcomplexdemandsof
clients.
Simonaabanov850815,KatarnaRuekov859471,ViktriaZacharov851007

ABSTRACT
Thedemandsandrequirementsoftheclientarethecrucialaspectforanarchitectinthe
processofcreatinganewproject.Duringthisprocess,jobofthearchitectistoapply,reduce
orchangethesedemands,inadditiontoproduceadesignwithwhichtheclientandthe
architectarebothinanagreement.Astoseethisjourneyofthiscooperation,LouisI.Kahn,
contemporarymodernistarchitectof20thcentury,isoneofthearchitectswhowasknown
forhisaffectionforthoughtfuldetailingasheoncenoted:"Asculptorsworkisthatkindof
thing.Everyimprintofthethumb,yousee,mustbethere.Idontbelieveinassembledjunk
piles,gluedtogether.Ibelievethateverythingshouldhavetheimprintoftheartist,inthe
structure."1Inhiswork,ThePhillipsExeterAcademyLibrary,SalkInstituteforBiological
Studies,andFisherHouse(Hatboro,Pennsylvania)wewillpointoutthesignificantworkof
LouisKahnincapturingnotonlytherequiredatmosphereofthebuildingsbytheirform,but
alsotheprecisionandthoughtfulnessofapplyingallclientsdetailsineveryaspectofthe
designingprocess.

COMMUNICATION,COLLABORATION,CONCLUSION
Itisalwaysachallengeforanarchitecttobeonthesamepagewiththeirclients.Itstime
spenthardwithdiscussing,suggesting,backingaway,consideringandunderstandingone
another,butmostlyitsaboutcommunication.Eachsidehastohavecouragetodefineand
sayoutloudtheirideas,talk,andnotbeafraidtoaskquestions.Onlyinthismanneritis
possibletobuildarelationshipbasedontrust,becausewithouttrust,anarchitectcannot
haveaclientandaclientwillneverhaveanarchitect.ThelatterisbestdescribedbyHoward
Roark,acharacter,anarchitect,inabookcalled'TheFountainhead'(1943),whosays:"I
don'tintendtobuildinordertohaveclients.Iintendtohaveclientsinordertobuild."2

WhatwasthensospecialaboutKahnandhisapproach?Howdiditaffecthisrelationships
withhisclients?Didhealwaysmanagetosatisfyallhisclientsdemandsandwasableto
incorporatetheminthedesign?Duringhisprofessionalcareerhehadmanydifferentkinds
ofclients,frombiggroupcommitteessuchasintheExeterLibraryproject,tosingleclients
duringSalkInstituteoranentirefamilyofNormanFisher.Sometimes,therelationships
culminatedintolongtermfriendshipsorveryrespectfulandprofessionalrelationshipsfor
therestofthelife.Therearemanybooks,recordings,andinterviews,andevensomeofthe
clientschildrenstillthinkhighlyofthesecollaborations.

1
Kahn,LouisI.BerkeleyLecture,1966ThoughtsonArchitectureandPersonalExpression;AnInformal
PresentationtoStudentsatBerkeley.Perspecta28(1997):22.
2
Pressman,AndrewTheFountainhead:ThePoliticsofArchitectClientRelations6.3.1995,Fisrt
edition,Wiley,backcover.
2

SALKINSTITUTEFORBIOLOGICALSTUDIES,LAJOLLA,CALIFORNIA(1965)

TheSalkInstitutewasestablishedin1960byJonasSalk,MD,thedeveloperofthefirstsafe
andeffectivepoliovaccine.ThankstoKahnssensefordetailsandunderstandingofspiritual
connectiontowardshitprojects,Salkselectedhimtodesigntheresearchfacilityhehad
envisionedandthatwouldcontributetotheenhancementofmankind.Salksoughtafacility
thatsupportedbothscientificresearchandintellectualdiscourse,for,"MedicalResearch
doesnotbelongentirelytomedicineorthephysicalsciences.ItbelongstoPopulation."
Kahnrepliedthefollowing:"[Salk]meantthatanyonewithamindinthehumanities,in
science,orinartcouldcontributetothementalenvironmentofresearchleadingto
discoveriesinscience."3Salksinstructionstothearchitectweresimpleitshouldbe
"worthyofavisitbyPicasso."4

Hence,SalkinstructedLouisKahntomakespacious,unobstructedlaboratoryspacesthat
couldbeadjustedtothechangingneedsofscienceandscientists.Heaskedhimtouse
materialsthataresimple,strong,lasting,yetareasmaintenancefreeaspossible.Kahn
madenumerousproposalsforitsmasterplanbeforedecidingonthefinalversionofthe
design.However,in1965,theconstructioncostsexceeded14milliondollars,themaster
planhadnotbeencompletedandwasstillmissinghousesforstaffandotherauxiliary
structures.

ThecityofSanDiegoprovidedthegroundfortheInstitute.Salkwasofferedvarious
locationsandtookKahnwithhimtohelphimchoosetherightone.Thesitechosenisagreat
spotlocatedonacliffonthecoastintheareaofLaJolla.

Theprojectdidnothaveaformalprogramstartingtoworkon,butemergedfrom
discussionsbetweentheclientandthearchitect.Thisunderstandingbetweenthetwosides
hasundoubtedlybeenoneofthekeyfactorsthatallowedthisworktobeconsideredoneof
themostimportantworksofKahnandalsogavehimalmosttotalfreedomtoexpresshis
ideas.KahnmanagedtopersuadeSalkthatitwasnecessarytocreatetwoseparate
environments,onefortheconceptualrealmoftheintellectandtheotherforthekingdom
trialofempiricalresearch.Thefirstconsistsofcellsofwellfurnishedpatioinfrontofahome
andcommunity,thesecondisagalleryspacewithgoodservices.

TheSalkInstituteprojectwentthroughthreemainphasesinwhichthearchitectdesigns
soughttoachievethebestpossiblewaydevisedbyhimandJonasSalkatthebeginning.To
betterunderstandtheneedsoftheinstitute,Kahnevenconfrontedscientist.Basedontheir
words,hecomprehendedwhatshouldbeimprovedintheirenvironment:

"I did not follow the dictates of the scientists, who said
that they are so dedicated to what they are doing that
whenlunchtimecomesalltheydoisclearawaythetest

3
Rowen,J.(2012).WantingToBe:ThePhiladelphiaSchool.[online]Quondam.com.Availableat:
http://www.quondam.com/40/4001.htm[Accessed27Jun.2016].,page40.
4
www.architecturaldigest.com.2016.ArchitecturalDigest.[ONLINE]Availableat:
http://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/louiskahnsalkinstitute.[Accessed22June2016].
3

 tubes from the benches and eat their lunch on these

benches. I asked them:was it not a strain with all these
noises? And they answered: the noises of the
refrigerators are terrible; the noises of centrifuges are
terrible; the trickling of the water is terrible. Everything
was terrible including the noises of the airconditioning
system. So I would not listen to them as to what should
be done. And I realized that there should be a clean air
and stainless steel area, and a rug and oak table areal.
From this realization form became. I separated the
studies from the laboratory and placed them over
gardens. The garden became outdoor spaces where one
can talk. Now one need not spend all the time in the
laboratories. When one knows what to do, there is only
littletimeoneneedsfordoingit.Itisonlywhenonedoes
notknowwhattodothatittakessomuchtime.Andto
knowwhattodoisthesecretofitall."5

Therefore,inthefirstphaseKahndesignedatowerthatwouldbeinthelaboratories.They
alsoincludedabuilding,knownastheMeetingHouse,wheremeetingswouldtakeplace.It
includedcafeteriaandotherservices.Placedatthetopofthecliffs,arecreationroomwas
created,inwhichworkerscouldrelax,withhousingplacedonthebottomofthecliff.All
thesebuildingsweremeanttobeseparatedfromeachotherandcommunicatedonlyvia
externalambulatories.

EventhoughtheMeetingHouse,recreationrooms,andhousingstayedatsameplace,the
secondphasehadanimpactespeciallyontheheightleveloflaboratoriesandgavethem
moreareaanddividedthemintothreepavilions.

Allthepavilionsareservedbyleisureexteriorambulatories.Kahndeclaredthatscientists
needspacestorelaxandrestfromworkanddiscussothermatters.Itisforthesereasons
thatKahndesignedtheMeetingHouse,recreationroomsandasmallnumberofstudies
nexttothelaboratories.Thesespaceshadadifferentdimensionthantheformalwork
space,thestudieshadcarpetingandwood,whilethelaboratorieshadglassandmetal.
Theseroomswerepresentinallphasesoftheproject.

Inthethirdandfinalphaseoftheproject,laboratorieswereseparatedintotwoblocksbya
openstoneplaza.Atthisstagetherearethreefloorsforlaboratoriesandthreemezzanines
situatedintheprevioushostingfacilities.

AlthoughtheSalkInstituteisrecognizedforthefunctionalityandqualityofitslaboratories,
itisthecourtyardthatdistinguishesthebuildingasamasterpieceofmodernarchitecture.

5
LouisI.Kahn.fromHeinzRonner,withSharadJhaveriandAlessandroVasellaLouisI.Kahn:Complete
Works193574.p158.

DesignedincollaborationwithcelebratedMexicanarchitectLuisBarragn,thesimple,
stonepavedcourtyardcontainsasmallpoolatitseasternedgethatfeedsintoanarrow,
linearchanneldividingitsymmetrically.

AtfirstKahndesignedthecentralplazawithtreesandvegetation,butchosetoentrustthe
designofthegardentotheprestigiousarchitectBarragan.Afterthemeetingofthesetwo
menthefollowinghappened:"IaskedBarragantocometoLaJollatohelpmeinselecting
plantsforthegardenoftheSalklaboratories.Whenhecameintotheroom,hewenttothe
concretewallsandtouchedthem,andsotheyexpressedtheirlovingrelationship.Whenhe
lookedthroughthesquaretowardsthesea,hesaid:"Iwouldnotputatreeorbladeofgrass
inthisspace.Thisshouldbeaplazaofstone,notagarden."I[Kahn]lookedatDr.Salkand
heatmeandwebothfeltthiswasdeeplyright.Feelingourapproval,headdedjoyously,"If
youmakethisaplaza,youwillgainafacadeafacadetothesky."6Barraganwasalsoheard
torefertothecourtyardasthe"fifthfacadeontheground."7Yes,therearesomerowsof
treesinthemainentranceofthelaboratories,acrossthesquare,butotherwisethereisno
othervegetation.

Thecourtyardwasdesignedinnegative,itselevationsandspatialintricaciesderivednot
frompreconceivednotionsofproportionsorimagery,butratherfromtheimprintofthe
surroundingbuildings'logicalconception.

Theproportionsofthecourtyardoutside,itswidthincontrasttotheverticalheightofthe
toweradjacentstudies,createabeautifulscaletimelesscharacter.Theyardisperhapsthe
mainproject,intermsofaesthetics,material,composition,andtherelationshipwiththe
environmentandtechnology.Atthecenterofthesquareandthroughit,Kahndesigneda
waterchannelthatisleadingtowardsthesea,culminatinginalargeterracelocatedatthe
southsideandtwoorthreemeterslowerthanthesquare.Therouteofwaterhelpstobreak
thehardnessofthesquaretomarkthetimethatanaxisofsymmetryoftheproject.This
tourbeginsinatravertinemarble,crossesthesquareintheformofasmallchanneltosettle
inapoolatalevelslightlylower.Thismarblepoolleadstoagargoyle,andthenwaterslides
downthroughadrainageon4marblecubes.

Thetowersofstudyarearrangedsymmetrically,riseoneachsideofthecourtyardwallswith
theangleof45degreestoallowaspectacularview.Theseverticalfourstorypavilionlike
buildingsconnectedwiththelargerofthelaboratories,whichdemarcatetheboundariesof
thislargecomplex.

Overall,theSalkInstituteisaverysymbolicenvironmentanditsopencharacteraboundsfor
teemingcreation.Thescientificprecisionisdefinedbystrongsymmetryandthecliff
representsthewarmthwiththehelpofnaturallightthatentersthebuildingsasaroadto
discovery.ThisprojectonlyendorsesKahnsattentiontoarchitecturaldetailforexactness

6
Rogers,Christy."SalkInstituteByLouisI.Kahn".Galinsky.com.N.p.,2008.Web.2July2016.
http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/salk/
7
https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Main_Page.2013.SalkInstituteforBiologicalStudies.
[ONLINE]Availableat:https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Salk_Institute_for_Biological_Studies.
[Accessed23June2016].
5

andtimelessbeauty.ItssimplyasKahnsaid,'thethoughtfulmakingspace',thatisunveiled
throughsimplicity,yetfullofmeaningandsignificance.Itisnowahistoricallandmark,since
1991,butitwouldhaveneverexistedwithouttheboldbondbetweenLouisKahnandJonas
Salk,whichwasdescribedasfollowing:

SalkandKahnquicklydiscoveredtheywereoflikemind
indeed, each grew to regard the other as a
collaborator. Their working relationship was
characterized by a dialogue that sometimes drifted into
abstract and philosophical terrain. To Salk, work at the
frontiers of biological science necessarily raised broad
questions about the future of humanity about the
meaning of life, values, and the nature of man. Kahn
warmlywelcomedthesethemes.SalkrecallsthatItwas
not uncommon for other people to watch us and listen
andbeutterlyconfusedalthoughtheyunderstoodeach
otherperfectly.8

NORMANFISHERHOUSE.HATBORO,PENNSYLVANIA(196067)

OneofthemostsignificantexamplesofKahnsworkisthislittleknownjewelofNorman
FisherHouse.Itisspecialnotonlybecauseofitsoutstandingtimelessdesign,butalsoforits
particulardesignprocessandthebondbetweentheclientandthearchitect.

ItissaidthatfromtheverybeginningKahnhadatypicalapproachtoeachdesignprocess.
Thisprocesscanhardlybecalledtraditional,asforKahn,hewasoncequotedin1973saying,
"Ialwaysstartwithasquare,nomatterwhattheproblemis."9Kahnhadatendency,or
evenmoresohefelthehadadutytoreassesseveryprogram,notconcerningthebudget,
toidentifynecessaryaspectsofeachproject.Ontheotherhand,thiswasagreattraitforan
architect,butalsoadoomanddownfallofcountlesscommissions.Heusedbubblediagrams
inwhichhesawtheclusteringofthefunctions.Heputthemostsignificanceintodividing
relationshipbetweenthe'servant'andthe'served'spaces.Inthiscase,'servant'referredto
kitchenandbathrooms,and'served'tobedroomsandlivingrooms.

Bytheendofthe1950sDoctorNormanFisherdecidedtobuildahousewherehecouldlive
withhiswifeDorisandraisehistwodaughters,NinaandClaudia.Duringthisperiod,they
livedinahumbleColonialstyleresidenceoutsideofPhiladelphia,whereDr.Fisheralso
conductedhisfamilyhealthpractice.Inordertokeeptheclientbasehehadsecuredover
theyears,thefamilydecidedtopurchasealong,narrowpieceoflandalongMillRoadin
Hatboro,Pennsylvania,whichwasonlythreeblocksawayfromtheircurrenthome.Even
thoughtheneighborhoodwasmostlysurroundedbycolonial,postwar,andneotraditional

8
Brownlee,DavidB.,andDavidG.DeLong.LouisI.Kahn:IntheRealmofArchitecture.LosAngeles:Museumof
ContemporaryArt,Rizzoli,1991.

9
Ronner,Heinz,andSharadJhaveri.LouisI.Kahn:CompleteWork,19351974.NewYork:Birkhauser
VerlagAG,1987,98.
6

houses,theFisherswerefascinatedbythesmallcreekthatranthroughtheirplot,dividing
thelandinastrikingandmesmerizingbackyard.

Aftergainingtheland,Fishersbegantointerviewmanyprospectivearchitectsand
architecturalfirms.Theywerenotquitesurewhattheywerelookingfor,butwereconfident
intheirabilitytosensetherightfitfortheirneeds.Amongthesearchitectswasa
PhiladelphianfirmGBQC,agroupofyoungdesignerswhowereabitindifferenttothe
prospectofdesigningasinglefamilyresidenceinthesuburbs.Theylackedinterestinthe
project,whichledFisherstoquestiontheirmotives.Thisturnedouttobeaproductoftheir
distinguishedmentorsworkinresidentialdesign.Underthesecircumstances,theFishers
decidedtomeetthearchitects'mentorhimself,LouisI.Kahn,amantheyandalsomostof
thepeopleoutsideofthearchitecturalworldatthattimeknewverylittleabout.

ThefirstmeetingoftheFisherswithLouisKahndidnotgoastheywouldhaveimagined.The
Fisherspickedhimupfromatrainstationandfromthere,theywentstraighttothesiteon
theMillRoad.Dr.NormanFishersummedupthefirstencounterasfollows:

"On first contact Mr. Kahn did not make an impressive

appearance. He was short in stature and had a badly
burned face from a childhood accident. He wore black
jackets,frequentlyshinyfromwear.Thesesuperficialities
short faded, as his intellect, energy, humor and warmth
showed through. He worked intensely with his yellow
paper and black charcoal and in short time a room or
homeappeared,peopledandlandscaped."10

Thatfirstimpressionfromthemeetingshapedthebeginningofsevenyearrelationship
betweentheFishersandKahn,whichaftersomeyearstransformedintoabook.Whenthey
wereallatthesite,Kahnquestionedthefamilyontheirdesires,inarchitecturaland
programmedpointofview.Hewantedtoknowwhattheretheyimaginedinthisland,what
theyrequiredandalsowhatkindofpeopletheywere.ThetwomainchallengesthatFishers
askedKahntoaccomplish,weretoincorporatefamilylifewithadoctor'soffice,arequest
thatwasnotforeigntoKahn,butachallengenonethelessandabudgetof$45000,dueto
whichKahnautomaticlycancledhisideaof3externalrooms.

ThecommissionfortheFisherHousehappenedduringthetimewhenmonumentalandvery
timeconsumingprojectswereontheboardsintheKahn'sWalnutStreetoffice.Itwassaid,
thatKahntreatedhishousingprojectsasexperiments,histimeandopportunitytoplaythe
madscientistandexploremanyideashehadrunningthroughhishead.Notonlythiswas
thecasewithFisherhouse,leadingtoanextremelyprolongeddesignprocess,butalsothe
simultaneousdesignworkbeingundertakenonlargescalecivicprojectsalsocametoimpact
thefinalformoftheresidence.JustbylookingatthedatesontheFisherhousedrawings,
onecanclearlyseetheideaoftheprioritiesanddeadlinesforotherlargerprojects,likethe
SalkInstituteandtheCapitolComplexinDacca,Bangladesh.Kahnwasjustveryluckyto

10
NormanandDorisFisher.SevenYearswithLouisI.Kahn.KahnLouisIHouses.ByYutakaSaito,149.
7

havetwoclients,NormanandDoris,whowereextremelypatientduringthewholeprocess
ofdesignandluckilynotinabighurrytomoveacrosstownintoanewhome.

ThekeytotherelationshipbetweenKahnandtheFisherswasharmony.Theywouldmeet
abouteverytwoorthreemonthsoverthesevenyearstheywerepartakeninthedesignof
thehouse,alsoincludingcopiousdinnerdiscussionsattheresidenceafteritscompletion.
WhatFishersvalued,wasthefeelingofbeingheardthroughouttheprocess,theirconcerns
andrequestswouldbedealtwithproperlyandrespectfullybyKahnandhiscolleagues.One
timeDorisFishertoldKahnin1970inaconversationatthehouse,"Wespoketolessermen
whowereveryadamantintheirapproachnotaestheticbutincertainthingsthey
thoughthadtobedonewithnoconsiderationfortheclientsneedsandwedidntfeelyou
wouldthinkthatway."11TheFishersdevelopedadeeprespectforKahn'sabilities,andto
hispassionandattentiontodetailheexpressedwheneverhevisitedorspokeaboutthe
project.TheonlyissuefortheFishers,whichwasalreadypartlymentionedinthisessay,was
Kahnstendencytostartallovereverytimetherewassomethingwrongwiththeproject.
TheFishersrecalled,Ifwewerenotsatisfiedwithasetofplans,hewouldnotmodifythem
butinsistedonstartingover.12Heultimatelyproducedfivedifferentschemesforthehouse
overfouryears,whichinpartaccountsforwhyittooksolongtodesignandbuild.Another
explanationcanbeofferedbyWilliamWhitaker,whoisthecollectionsmanagerofthe
architecturalarchivesattheUniversityofPennsylvania,adesireonthepartofthearchitect
andclientstoattainahighdegreeofrefinement,...thecabinetlikequalityofitsconstruction
andtautplanning.13Inotherwords,ittooktimetogetitright.

Asmentionedbefore,therewerefivedifferentschemesthroughouttheprocessofdesigning
theFisherHouse.Firstone'wasrectilinearinformwithaseriesofprojectionsandalcoves
thatcreatedthemajorapertureelementsasiftodistinguishtheirpurposefromtherestof
thefaade'.Inthesecondschemewastheplan'pulledtogetherintoarectilinearvolume
withanattachedmasonrycube'.

AftervisitingDacca,KahnrethoughthisdesignsfortheFisherHouse.Kahnrespectedthe
messageinorientationoftheCapitolComplex,thereforehedecidedtoangleoneofthe
cubesoftheFisherHouse.Hefeltitwasimportanttounderstandthejointofanassemblyof
religionwiththeassemblyofgovernment,whichheelaboratedintotheplanofthehouse.
Heexplainshisthoughtssubsequently:

On the night of the third day, I fell out of bed with the
idea which is still the prevailing idea of the plan. This
came simply from the realization that assembly is of a
transcendentnature.Mencametoassembletotouchthe

11
AHouseWithinaHouse.TranscribedandEditedbyMelissaSteeleyandWilliamWhitakerThe
ArchitecturalArchives,UniversityofPennsylvania.EditorsNote:Thistranscriptdocumentsaconversaon
betweenLouisI.KahnandDorisFisherrecordedontheeveningofMarch8,1970attheFishershousein
Hatboro,Pennsylvania.
12
NormanandDorisFisher.SevenYearswithLouisI.Kahn.KahnLouisIHouses.ByYutakaSaito,151.
13
ModernMagazine.2012.LouisKahnsLittleKnownJewelbySharonMcHugh.[ONLINE]Availableat:
http://www.modernmag.com/?p=1925.[Accessed29June2016].
8

 spirit of commonness, and I thought that this must be

expressible.Observingthewayofreligioninthelivingof
the Pakistani, I thought that a mosque woven into the
spacefabricoftheassemblywouldhavesucheffect.14

Therefore,inthethirdscheme,Kahnreturnedtohisgeometricallybinuclearplan,
separatingthetwomainfunctionsintwodifferentcubes,whichdifferedbymaterialand
orientation,asiflookingtowardsMecca.

ThefourthschemethatwasproposedbyKahntouchedachordwiththeFishers,therefore
constructiondocumentsbeganduringfirsthalfof1964.Theplancomprisedoftwoslightly
angledcubessetatopstonebases.Thehousestandsonanacreandhalfwoodedsitewitha
streaminthebackyard.Ithasabinuclearplan,inwhichtheliving'sleeping'quartersare
housedinonecubeconsistingofbedroomsandbathrooms,andthe'service'quartersinthe
othercubewiththelivingroom,diningroom,andthekitchen.

ThetruemagicofdesignhappenedwhenKahnincorporatedideasiftheFishers.For
example,theirloveforAmericanfarmhousesandbarnswasshownthroughverticalsiding
androughinteriorplasters.Whatsomeconsiderasthehouse'sgreatmoment,thelarge
picturewindowinthediningroomisalsotheirdesignidea.Originally,Kahndidnotdesigna
windowthere,sayingthattherewereareaswithineveryhousewhereoneshouldbeatrest
andhethoughtthediningroomisoneofthem.Ofcourse,theywerenotalwaysonthe
samepage.WhenFishersaskedKahntodesignanuseablespaceinthecrawlareaunderthe
sleepingcube,herefuseddueitwouldbeimpossibletofind"aestheticallypleasingwayof
bringinginnaturallight."15Nevertheless,withfrustration,hemanagedtocreatea
nondescriptspaceintotheconstructiondocumentsthedaybeforeconstructionwasto
originate.WhathelpedtheprocesswastheinterestoftheFishersinarchitecture,new
designtrends,workofIsamuNoguchiandNakashima.

TheFisherslivedinthehouseformorethanfortyyearsandthankstoKahntheycameto
appreciatethebeautyoflightandrealizedwhatkindofefforthemusthaveputintothis
projectandhowluckytheyweretoacquirehimastheirarchitect.Mrs.Fisherremembers:

The natural light in our home, varying throughout the

day, is always exciting, and on occasion elevated to that
ofareligiousexperience.Whenshaftsoflightpiercethe
invaginatedwindowsitgivesonethefeelingofbeingina
cathedral.Weneverrealizeduntilwehadthishome,how
little consideration is generally given to the kind of light
thatentersahouse.Whatanextradimensionhisgenius
created for us! When Mr. Kahn visited our home a few

14
Kahnasquotedin,BrownleeandDeLong.LouisI.Kahn,110.FromTheDevelopmentbyLouisI.Kahn
oftheDesignfortheSecondCapitalofPakistanatDacca,StudentPublicaonoftheSchoolofDesign,North
CarolinaStateCollege,Raleigh14(May1964):n.p.
15
Kahnasquotedin,NormanandDorisFisher,SevenYearswithLouisI.Kahn.LouisIKahnHouses.
ByYutakaSaito,157.
9

 yearsaftercompletion,weaskedhimhowhebeganour
house.Hesaiditsreallystructure.WhenIputdownthe
placeswheretheroomswereconstructedIwasthinking
aboutthelight.Iwasntthinkingofbeamsorstuds.Iwas
thinkingaboutwhatthereisaboutthestructurethatwill
giveyoulight.16

THEPHILIPSEXETERACADEMYLIBRARY,EXETER,NEWHAMPSHIRE(196668)

BeforeKahnevenlaidhiseyesontheprojectofExeterLibrary,15yearspassedfromthefirst
ideatoitsfinalandstandingform.Manyotherproposalswereundertaken,withno
resemblancetotheprojectthatwearenowsofamiliarwith.First,itwasonlymeanttobe
anadditiontotheDavisLibrarybyRalphAdamsCram,buttheschoolstrusteesfoundthis
solutionattheendinadequate.

Neweffortfocusedondesigningaseparatebuilding,thatwouldfulfilltheneedsofthe
Academyforatleastnext25yearsandalso,abuildingthatwouldblendinwithGeorgian
urbanstyleoftheneighborhoodandtheAcademycampus.

Thefacultycommittee,withAcademyLibrarianRodneyArmstrongincharge,heldameeting
todevelopaprogramstatementforthelibrary,developplansforaseparatebuildingand
recommendanoutstandingcontemporaryarchitectintheworldtothetrustees.In1965,
thecommitteeconferredwithnumerousarchitectsbeforerecommendingLouisI.Kahn,
FAIA,asthearchitect,whomtheyadmired'forhissympatheticuseofbricksandhisconcern
fornaturallight'.TherecommendationwasacceptedandconfirmedinNovember1965.

WorkingbothwithKahnandwithEngelhardt,EngelhardtandLegget,educational
consultantsfromPurdyStation,NewYork,thecommitteecoveredeveryaspectofthe
building,fromitsphilosophytopracticaldetails,withgreatemphasisontheatmosphere
desiredbothwithinandwithoutthebuilding.Inadditiontooutliningfunctional
requirementsforthelibrary,thecommitteespecifiedsiteandexteriordesign,designdetails,
stafffacilities,spatialrelationships,anditemssuchasairconditioning,lightning,mechanical
equipment,electricity,security,fire,andwaterprotection.Bymanyexpertsdescribedas
statesthefollowingstatement:

Thequalityofthelibrary,byinspiringasuperiorfaculty
and attracting superior students, determines the
effectivenessofaschool.Nolongerameredepositoryof
books and magazines, the modern library becomes a
laboratory for research and experimentation, a quit
retreat for study, reading and reflection, the intellectual
center of community Fulfilling needs of a school
expected eventually to number one thousand students,

16
Saito,Y.(2003).LouisI.Kahnhouses.Tokyo:TOTOShuppan.,161.
10

 unpretentious, though in a handsome, inviting

contemporary style, such a library would affirm the
regardattheAcademyfortheworkofthemindandthe
handsofman.17

Themostnotablementioninthedocumentisthattheemphasisshouldnotbeonhousing
books,butonhousingreadersusingbooks.Itisthereforedesirabletoseekanenvironment
thatwouldencourageandinsurethepleasureofreadingandstudy.18

Duetothislogic,Kahnhadtosupplythelibraryavarietyofchoicesofseatingareasfor
studentsandfaculty,includingbothhardandsoftchairs,nearwindowsandininteriorareas
ofthebuilding.Also,agardenorashadedterracewasrequiredatanotherlevel.Itwas
askedofKahnthatwhenreaderasheentersshouldbeabletosenseatoncethebuildings
plan.19Kahnhadnodifficultiesinacquiringthisobligation.Whenoneentersthroughthe
mainentrancestothe111'x111'squarelibraryonthegroundfloorandclimbsthestairsto
thefirstfloor,hecaneasilycomprehendtherelationshipofreferencearea,innercirculation
desk,andbookstackarea.

Itistraditionalinmostlibrariestolocatecertainkindofsupervisionofstudentbehaviorand
securityofthecollectionsclosetothemainentranceatthegroundfloor,butnotinthis
case.Asmentioned,thecirculationdeskwasdesignedtobeonthefirstfloor,duetoensure
thatservicetowardsstudentsandbookstookahigherpriorityratherthansupervision.

Embodyingtheclientsspecificationontheuseofmaterialssuchasbricks,stone,andslate,
Kahnalsoincludedextensiveuseofnaturalwood,mainlyteakandwhiteoak,travertine,and
concrete.Throughtheuseofthesespecificmaterialsheaccomplishedtocreateawarm,
impressiveandyetveryfunctionalbuilding.

ThevariabilityofmaterialsallowedKahntointeractbetweenstructure,light,anduse.For
example,interiorwasmainlyoutofconcrete,yettheexteriorwasademonstrationof
masonrywork.

TheuseofwoodworkattheExeterLibraryispossiblytheclearestdefinitionofitsrolewithin
Kahn'sarchitecture.Woodismainlyusedasthepedestalorastandonwhichabookwould
beplacedforfurtherobservation.Itwasanadditionalelementtohighlightthesignificance
ofthelocationinwhichabookcanbeexamined.Thetablesalongtheperimeterofthe
atriumallowstudentstoexaminethebookstheyhadlocatedinthebookstacks.The
appearanceofthetablesresemblesaltarsorspeechtables,asifthebooksaregoingtobe
readtoanaudienceorpeoplebelow.Thefacesareorientedtowardstheatriumandare
finishedinAngloAmericanpaneleddetailing.

17
RodneyArmstrong,ElliotG.Fish,andAlbertC.Ganley,ProposalsforTheLibraryatThePhillipsExeter
Academy(Exeter,NH:PhillipsExeterAcademy,1966),1.
18
RodneyArmstrong,LouWho?,"ThePhillipsExeterBulletinSpring2004:6.
19
RodneyArmstrong,LouWho?,"ThePhillipsExeterBulletinSpring2004:22.
11

Thecarrels,singlestudentdesks,arelocatedtowardstheexterior,utilizingthepaneldetail
andthetonaldifferentiationofthewoodagainsttheentirelybrickfaadetogesturetoward
theirpresencewithin.Theyrepresentaconnectionwiththeatriumtables,servingthe
studentsasamorepersonalspacetoread,study,andlearn.Eveninhispreviousworkof
residentialprojects,Kahnusedwoodtocreateasenseofhumanitywithinsuchanascetic
environment.Therefore,thecarrelssignifyarefugeforstudents,lettingthemtomaintaina
personalspacetostudythatisspirituallycomforting.Thecarrelsactasapersonalwindow
seat,quitsimilartotheonefoundattheFisherhouse.

Duringa1961discussionwiththeeditorofPerspecta,Kahnillustratedtheroleofthe
windowseatbynoting,"Itaddsafriendliness,ahateofcomfortandakindofgettingaway
fromsomeoneandbeingaloneeveninaroomwheremanyarepresent."20Thisideaalso
complementstheintroversionofthespaceandissupplementedbyoperableshuttersthat
Kahndesigned.Theyarepartoftheexteriorpanelingandgivestudentsfullcontroloverthe
influxoflight.Kahnalsosaid,"Thewindowsshouldbemadeparticulartosuitastudentwho
wantstobealoneevenwhenheiswithothers."21Theideawastoprovideeachstudents
somethingsimilartoa'ownhomeforlearning',aplacethatwasphysiologicallycomforting.

InallKahnsprojects,weseehisefforttousequalityspacestodefinethecharacterofan
institution,thespacesthebuildingcouldnotpossiblysurvivewithout.Basically,atrium
tablesandthecarrelsembodythespacealibrarycannotlackoff.Thebookstacks
representedanentrepot,whereallthegoodswherestored,yetthecarrelswerethe
momentwithinthelibrarywherereaderswouldfinallyexamineandgettoknowthebook;
moreimportantly,themomentatwhichtheinfluxofthelightmetthebook,itself,thetrue
spiritofalibrary.

Throughouttheyearsofthisproject,KahntriedtoreflectalldemandsoftheAcademy,but
therewerethreemainaspects,requirements,whichhethoughtaremostimportantinthe
library:"Glareisbadinthelibrary;wallspaceisimportant.Littlespaceswhereyoucan
adjournwithabookaretremendouslyimportant...,"22andarewithnodoubtprovidedin
thePhillipsExeterLibrary.

Kahnsabilitytotranslateandreifyhisclientsimaginationsandneedsintomilestonesof
worldarchitectureasweknowittoday,reassuredhisclientsinbelievinghimwiththeir
projects.Hisfullcommitment,driveandloveforhisworkwasjustoneofhismanytrades
thatdistinguishedhimasanarchitectandallowedhimto'play'withhisdesigns,even
thoughitsometimesledtobiggerbudgets,constructionpostponementsorcompletedesign
changes.LouisKahnalwaystriedtogivelifetohisbuildingsthroughdifferentmaterial
characteristicsandsensebyplayingwithlightandshadeofinteriorandexteriorofthe
projects.Attheend,hisclientsendedupbeyondsatisfiedandcouldnothaveaskedfora
moreardentarchitect.

20
Kahnasquotedin,DiscussioninKahnsOffice,Perspecta7(1961):928.From,Twombly,Robertand
LouisI.Kahn.DiscussioninKahnsOffice(1961),LouisKahnEssenalTexts.Boston:W.W.Norton&Company,
2003,114.ReprintedwithpermissionoftheDeanoftheSchoolofArchitecture,YaleUniversity.
21
Kahn,ArchitectureandHumanAgreement(lecture,UniversityofVirginia,April18,1972),Modulus,
no.11(1975):n.p.From,BrownleeandDeLong.LouisI.Kahn,207
22
Bttiker,U.(1993).LouisI.Kahn.Basel:Birkhuser.,137

12

REFERENCES:

Websites

Archideando."SalkInstituteArchideando".Archideando.info.N.p.,2013.Web.22June
2016.
http://www.archideando.info/blog/salkinstitute/

Architeam."SalkInstitute|Architravel".ArchiTravel.N.p.,2013.Web.27June2016.
http://www.architravel.com/architravel/building/salkinstitute/

Brown,Brigette."ThisIsHowYouSaveALouisKahnMasterpiece".Architizer.N.p.,2014.
Web.1July2016.http://architizer.com/blog/conservingmodernarchitectureinitiative
kahnssalkinstitute/

Dameron,Charles."AMonumentToTheLifeOfTheMind".WSJ.N.p.,2016.Web.26June
2016.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303406104576444352682795230

FAIALeeF.Mindel."TourLouisKahn'sMagnificentSalkInstituteInLaJolla,California|
ArchitecturalDigest".ArchitecturalDigest.N.p.,2016.Web.23June2016.
http://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/louiskahnsalkinstitute

JamesChakraborty,Kathleen."ReinforcedConcreteInLouisKahnSNationalAssembly,
Dhaka:ModernityAndModernismInBangladeshiArchitecture".Sciencedirect.com.N.p.,
2016.Web.19June2016.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095263514000041
JRCURTIS,WILLIAM."LouisKahn:TheSpaceOfIdeas".ArchitecturalReview.N.p.,2012.
Web.2July2016.
http://www.architecturalreview.com/archive/viewpoints/louiskahnthespaceof
ideas/8637503.fullarticle

Katarne,Rajat."ArchitecturalCaseStudyOfIIMAhemdabadByLouisIKhan".Slideshare.net.
N.p.,2016.Web30June2016
http://www.slideshare.net/rajatkatarne/architecturalcasestudyofiimahemdabadby
louisikhan

Leslie,Thomas."ThingInTheirBestOrder".N.p.,2003.Web.29June2016.
http://www.kahntrentonbathhouse.org/Things%20in%20Their%20Best%20Order.pdf

Lukez,Paul."PhillipsExeterAcademyLibrary|PaulLukezArchitecture".Lukez.com.N.p.,
2014.Web.17June2016.
http://www.lukez.com/2014/07/phillipsexeteracademylibrary/

McHugh,Sharon."LouisKahnSLittleKnownJewel|ModernMagazine".Modernmag.com.
N.p.,2012.Web.26June2016.
http://www.modernmag.com/?p=1925

13

Microzeta."ArchitecturalCaseStudies:LouisKahn:OnTheDistinctionOfServiceVs
Space".Archcasestudies.blogspot.it.N.p.,2006.Web.28June2016.
http://archcasestudies.blogspot.it/2006/03/louiskahnondistinctionofservice.html

Mollman,Josh."LOUISKAHNSSALKINSTITUTEPREMODERNINFLUENCESINKAHNS
WORK".N.p.,2014.Web.16June2016.
http://www.indiana.edu/~iucdp/Mollman_Project2.pdf

Perez,Adelyn."ADClassics:ExeterLibrary(ClassOf1945Library)/Louis
Kahn".ArchDaily.N.p.,2010.Web.1July2016.
http://www.archdaily.com/63683/adclassicsexeterlibraryclassof1945librarylouiskahn

PerryBrown,Jack."ArchitectureInContextLouisKahnInTheMidwest".N.p.,1989.Web.30
June2016.
http://www.artic.edu/sites/default/files/libraries/pubs/1989/AIC1989Kahn_com.pdf
Rosenthal,Steve."DesignOfTheLibrary".exeter.eduN.p.,2016.Web.1July2016.
https://www.exeter.edu/libraries/553_4375.aspx

Unknownauthor,"LouisKahnSSalkInstituteOfBiologicalStudies".Pammycakes18's
Blog.N.p.,2011.Web.30June2016.
https://pammycakes18.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/louiskahnssalkinstituteofbiological
studies/

Unknownauthor,"SalkInstituteByLouisI.KahnAtGreatbuildings".GreatBuildings.N.p.,
2016.Web.30June2016.
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Salk_Institute.html

Unknownauthor,"SalkInstituteForBiologicalStudies".Wikipedia.N.p.,2016.Web.28June
2016.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salk_Institute_for_Biological_Studies

Unknownauthor,"AboutSalkArchitectureSalkInstituteForBiologicalStudies".Salk
InstituteforBiologicalStudies.N.p.,2016.Web.28June2016.
http://www.salk.edu/events/tourinformation/aboutsalkarchitecture/

Rogers,Christy."SalkInstituteByLouisI.Kahn".Galinsky.com.N.p.,2008.Web.2July2016.
http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/salk/

Salk,Jonathan."ReflectionsOnTheRelationshipBetweenLouKahnAndJonasSalk
Designintelligence".Di.net.N.p.,2015.Web.1July2016.
http://www.di.net/articles/reflectionsontherelationshipbetweenloukahnandjonas
salk/

Shuppan,TOTO."LouisKahn>FisherHouse|HICArquitectura".Hicarquitectura.com.N.p.,
2013.Web.1July2016.
http://hicarquitectura.com/2013/09/louiskahnfisherhouse/

VOYATZIS,COSTAS."''EvenABrickWantsToBeSomething''LouisKahn|
Yatzer".Yatzer.N.p.,2013.Web.27June2016.
https://www.yatzer.com/evenbrickwantsbesomethinglouiskahn
14


Unknownauthor,"FisherHouseArchitectureOfTheWorld
Wikiarquitectura".En.wikiarquitectura.com.N.p.,2015.Web.26June2016.
https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Fisher_House

Unknownauthor,"SalkInstitute".WTTWChicagoPublicMediaTelevisionand
Interactive.N.p.,2013.Web.31June2016.
http://interactive.wttw.com/tenbuildings/salkinstitute

Unknownauthor,"SalkInstituteForBiologicalStudiesArchitectureOfTheWorld
Wikiarquitectura".En.wikiarquitectura.com.N.p.,2013.Web.3July2016.
https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Salk_Institute_for_Biological_Studies

Books

AHouseWithinaHouse.TranscribedandEditedbyMelissaSteeleyandWilliamWhitaker.
TheArchitecturalArchives,UniversityofPennsylvania.

Brownlee,DavidB.,andDavidG.DeLong.LouisI.Kahn:IntheRealmofArchitecture.Los
Angeles:MuseumofContemporaryArt,Rizzoli,(1991).

Burton,JosephA.TheAestheticEducationofLouisI.Kahn:19121924.(1997).

Bttiker,U.,LouisI.Kahn.Basel:Birkhuser.(1993).

DAmbrogi,Taryn,andCaitlinKramer.KahnTimeline:InterviewswiththeFisherFamily.
LouisI.Kahnseminar.UniversityofPennsylvania.(14Dec.2008).

Fisher,NormanandDorisFisher.SevenYearswithLouisI.Kahn.LouisI.KahnHouses.In
YutakaSaito.NewYork:Toto,Japan,2003.

Ford,E.Thedetailsofmodernarchitecture.Cambridge,Mass.:MITPress.(2003).

Kahn,LouisI.BerkeleyLecture,1966ThoughtsonArchitectureandPersonalExpression;An
InformalPresentationtoStudentsatBerkeley.Perspecta28(1997).

Kahn,LouisI.FormandDesign.ArchitecturalDesign31(April1961).

McCarter,R.andKahn,L.(2010).LouisI.Kahn.Berlin:Phaidon.(2013).

Reed,PeterS.LouisI.KahnsEsherickandFisherHouses.GA76(May1996).

Ronner,Heinz,andSharadJhaveri.LouisI.Kahn:CompleteWork,19351974.NewYork:
BirkhauserVerlagAG,1987.

15