The Essential Louis Kahn

About this book

This photographic tour of every one of the buildings designed solely by Louis Kahn represents the architects greatest accomplishments. This book focuses on over twenty buildings that were designed solely by Louis Kahn. From his native city of Philadelphia to the heart of Bangladesh Kahns architecture reflected his fascination with science mathematics history and nature. Striking new interior and exterior photographs by esteemed architectural photographer Cemal Emden reveal the characteristic features of Kahns aesthetic: juxtaposed materials repetition of line and shape and geometric precision. Also evident is the way Kahns designs flourish in a variety of settings--religious governmental educational and residential. The book gives close attention to Kahns most iconic buildings including Erdman Hall at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania; the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad; the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka Bangladesh; and the Yale Center for British Art in New Haven Connecticut as well as a cluster of residences he designed in the Philadelphia area. Chapter openers written by architecture professor Caroline Maniaque an introduction by academic Jale Erzen and an extensive chronology by academic Zekiye Abali as well as a selection of Kahns most insightful statements complete this book which allows for a rich understanding of Kahns architectural ingenuity.