Relationship between Serving Space and Structural Elements in Louis Essay

Relationship between Serving Space and Structural Elements in Louis Kahns Laboratories and Museum - Essay Example Inspired by the outstanding architectural skills of Louis Kahn, Jonas Salk offered him to design the facility. Jonas Salk wanted this Institute to be constructed in a distinctive manner. Louis Kahn was hired to provide unobstructed and voluminous spaces inside the laboratory so that they could be adapted to the readily modifying scientific needs. The building materials were supposed to be durable, simple, strong, and free of maintenance to the maximum extent. Kahn created two mirror-image structures aside a large courtyard. The height of each building is six stories, with the three floors at the base being used as laboratories, whereas the top three floors meant to provide the users with access to the utilities. There are distinct towers that protrude into the courtyard and provide the users with space to conduct individual professorial studies. Separate ventilation, heating, and support systems have been installed in the towers located at the buildings’ eastern ends. Six floo rs at the western end of the buildings overlook the ocean. In total, the Institute has been formed by the linkage of 29 distinct structures. The impact of outstanding architecture of Louis Kahn can be assessed from the courtyard. Things that need to be taken into consideration include the creative use of space and the level of emphasis Kahn has placed upon the utilization of the natural light. To entertain the vision of Jonas Salk that the environment inside the Institute should be suitable for the conduction of scientific research, Louis Kahn allowed maximal in-pour of the natural light. Each of the four external walls of the laboratory at all levels have been constructed from large panes of...Louis Kahn’s architecture has maximized the usability of the structures in that the serving spaces are intrinsically related with the structural elements. Ranging from the series of light wells installed in the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, to the open ceiling of the entry por ch in the Richards Medical Research Laboratories, and the use of narrow pexiglass skylights in the Kimbell Art Museum, everything has been chosen and installed purposefully to maximize the usability, and aesthetic appeal for the public. Louis Kahn has taken the use of machines and tools to the apogee of architectonics, thus designing structures as composite of components that worked in mutual harmony. Not a single design proposed by Louis Kahn understates his expertise in making the best use of materials. An in-depth study and analysis of the architectural work of Louis Kahn suggests that he was ahead of his time, which is one reason why his work has a great influence on the contemporary architecture.