KAHN, LOUIS I.

KAHN, LOUIS I.
KAHN, LOUIS I. (1901–1974), U.S. architect. Born on the island of Osel (Saaremaa), Estonia, he was taken to the U.S. in 1905. After traveling in Europe he worked with Paul Cret, an academic architect, and later became an expert in city planning. During World War II he designed a number of housing projects with associates, and later became resident architect of the American Academy in Rome, design critic at Yale, and professor of architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. His first building of importance was the Yale Art Gallery, New Haven (1952–55). In his Community Center of Trenton (1956–59), the cross-axial plan reveals the influence of the Beaux-Arts tradition. Here and in the Yale Art Gallery Kahn revived the use of the column as a means of defining space. The Richards Medical Research Building, University of Pennsylvania (1958–60), was a spectacular construction which placed Kahn at the forefront of international architecture. The horizontal buildings are surmounted by thrusting vertical towerlike ducts, the purpose of which is to allow toxic atmospheres to escape from the laboratories. By this means Kahn created a flamboyantly picturesque skyline out of a functional need. Kahn later designed many synagogues. The exterior of his design for Congregation Mikveh Israel, Philadelphia (1963) is very austere and resembles a fortress. It features a series of massive, repetitive, round stone blocks. The rounded walls of the interior are broken up by arched openings which let in the light. Emphasis is placed on the area of space rising above the congregation. His notebooks and drawings were published in 1962. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: L'architecture d'aujourd'hui (special issue in honor of Louis I. Kahn), 142 (Feb.–March 1969), 1–99 (Eng.); I. Mc-Callum, Architecture U.S.A. (1959), 83–88; Bush-Brown, in: Horizon, 5 (Sept. 1962), 57–63; V.J. Scully, Louis I. Kahn (Eng., 1962).

Encyclopedia Judaica. 1971.

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  • KAHN, LOUIS — (1895–1967), French general and naval engineer. Born in Versailles, Kahn commanded a battery in World War I and was wounded twice. After the war, he graduated as a maritime engineer and helped construct the first modern French cruisers. Head of… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Kahn, Louis I. — ▪ American architect in full  Louis Isadore Kahn   born Feb. 20, 1901, Osel, Estonia, Russian Empire died March 17, 1974, New York, N.Y., U.S.  American architect whose buildings, characterized by powerful, massive forms, made him one of the most …   Universalium

  • KAHN, Louis — (1901 1974)    Louis Kahn is best known for infusing a subtle poetic grace to modern architecture. Using mainly concrete, he provided a gentle rhythm to his designs, and that practice made him a famous architect of museums, where the gallery… …   Historical Dictionary of Architecture

  • Kahn,Louis Isadore — Kahn (kän), Louis Isadore. 1901 1974. Estonian born American architect whose bold monumental designs include the Yale University Art Gallery (1954) and the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas (1972). * * * …   Universalium

  • Kahn, Louis I(sadore) — born Feb. 20, 1901, Osel, Estonia, Russian Empire died March 17, 1974, New York, N.Y., U.S. Estonian born U.S. architect. He came to the U.S. as a child and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. One of the century s most original… …   Universalium

  • Kahn, Louis I(sadore) — (20 feb. 1901, Osel, Estonia, Imperio ruso–17 mar. 1974, Nueva York, N.Y., EE.UU.). Arquitecto estadounidense de origen estonio. Llegó a EE.UU. siendo un niño y se graduó de la Universidad de Pensilvania. Uno de los arquitectos más originales del …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Kahn, Louis — (1901 74)    American architect, of Estonian origin. Born in Osel, Estonia, he came to the US at the age of four. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania, and worked in various architectural offices. He later taught architecture at Yale… …   Dictionary of Jewish Biography

  • Kahn, Louis l. — ► (1901 74) Arquitecto estadounidense. Autor del Centro social y deportivo de Trenton …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Louis Kahn — Louis Isadore Kahn (* 20. Februar 1901 in Kuressaare auf Saaremaa, Estland; † 17. März 1974 in New York) war ein bedeutender US amerikanischer Architekt, Stadtplaner und Hochschullehrer. Sein Arbeitsschwerpunkt waren öffentliche Bauten. Er war… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Louis Khan — Louis Isadore Kahn (* 20. Februar 1901 in Kuressaare auf Saaremaa, Estland; † 17. März 1974 in New York) war ein bedeutender US amerikanischer Architekt, Stadtplaner und Hochschullehrer. Sein Arbeitsschwerpunkt waren öffentliche Bauten. Er war… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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