PAINTING THE SKY BLACK: Louis Kahn and the Architectonization of Nature

Florian Sauter

Open Access Published by De Gruyter Open Poland 2018

PAINTING THE SKY BLACK

Louis Kahn and the Architectonization of Nature

Florian Sauter

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110567496

Overview
Contents

About this book

In 1962, Louis I. Kahn described the design of the Salk Institute as having been developed “out of a respect and understanding of the nature of nature,” before adding: “I am becoming increasingly conscious of the architecture of water, the architecture of air, the architecture of light.” Attempting to poetically unveil the world through the conscious architectonization of nature, the deliberations presented in this book interpret the American architect’s buildings as the result of a Stoic pursuit to comprehend the lawfulness of the natural world, scrutinize his endeavor to set spatial compositions into analogy with organisms’ principles of growth and form, illustrate his growing awareness to shape space in reciprocity with environmental forces, and acknowledge his eventual willingness to make the surrounding landscape and cosmos an integrated part of the architectural project. Furthermore, Kahn’s highly ambiguous epistemology with regard to man’s position within and beyond nature is being discussed – ultimately promoting an ecologically sound down to earth approach, which takes into account the impulse of the primitive and elemental. Aspiring for an eternal expression, the manifestation of the world of the human spirit was for Kahn – one of the most legendary and original architects of the 20th century – only possible within the larger order of the universe, whereas the same transcendent, creative joy pervaded both.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	I
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	V
Abbreviations Open Access Download PDF	IX
Introduction: Architecture Is Not a Horse Open Access Download PDF	1
1 Doing More With Less. Towards An Architecture Of Optimization Open Access Download PDF	7
2 From Mechanism To Vitalism. Rethinking The Paradigm Of Organization Open Access Download PDF	105
3 Engaging Sun, Wind, Earth And Water. Adaptation In A Climate Of Change Open Access Download PDF	198
4 In Praise Of Silence And Light. The Expression Of In-Commonness Open Access Download PDF	317
Epilogue: Domestication Of The Elements Open Access Download PDF	442
Bibliography Open Access Download PDF	459
Illustrations Open Access Download PDF	484
Index Open Access Download PDF	489

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter Open Poland
Pages
- Main content: 500
Illustrations
- Illustrations: 292
- Coloured Illustrations: 292

eBook

Published: May 10, 2018
ISBN: 9783110567496

Hardcover

Published: May 10, 2018
ISBN: 9783110567328