Louis I. Kahn: The Making of a Room

Early Work

"The Plan - A society of rooms is a place good to live work learn"

"The Room is the place of the mind"

"In a small room one does not say what one would in a large room"

"A room with only one other person could be generative. The vectors of each meet"

"A room is not a room without natural light"

Louis Kahn believed that light was an architectural element on par with every other element of a structure. In a 1961 lecture, “Law and Rule in Architecture,” he explained: “Every space must have natural light, because it is impossible to read the configurations of a space or shape by having only one or two ways of lighting it. Natural light enters the
space released by the choice of construction.”

The Kimbell Art Museum is a prime example of Kahn’s imaginative use of lighting. In designing this building he developed a system that allowed natural light into the galleries but diffused it with a series of innovative reflectors. These enhanced the galleries by bathing them in a silver glow but kept the light from directly touching the works of art. In
three depictions of the same gallery during different seasons, Kahn envisioned how the visitor would experience his galleries as the exterior conditions changed.

Kahn investigated the spectral quality of light in his designs for the fittings of his First Unitarian Church. He designed an ensemble of colorful hangings for the sanctuary in order to make the congregation feel as if it were surrounded by light, which he saw as the “giver of life.” His preliminary proposal included large hangings in red, yellow, and blue, as seen in the sample weaving shown here. His revised proposal, which was adopted for the decoration of the auditorium, used individual hangings representing the progression of color in the spectrum as the expression of light.

Click on the thumbnail images below for a larger view.

	Kimbell Art Museum Fort Worth 1966-72 First of a Series of Three Perspectives of a Gallery Showing Variations in Lighting and Seasonal Conditions Pencil, Negro pencil, and pastel on tracing paper The Architectural Archives, University of Pennsylvania by Anonymous Gift aaup.217.1.1
	Kimbell Art Museum Fort Worth 1966-72 Second of a Series of Three Perspectives of a Gallery Showing Variations in Lighting and Seasonal Conditions Pencil, Negro pencil, and pastel on tracing paper The Architectural Archives, University of Pennsylvania by Anonymous Gift aaup.217.1.2
	Kimbell Art Museum Fort Worth 1966-72 Third of a Series of Three Perspectives of a Gallery Showing Variations in Lighting and Seasonal Conditions Charcoal, negro lead, and pastel on tracing paper The Architectural Archives, University of Pennsylvania by Anonymous Gift aaup.217.1.3
	Kimbell Art Museum Fort Worth 1966-72 Preliminary Section Studies of Vault and Reflectors Charcoal on tracing paper Louis I Kahn Collection, University of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum commission 030.I.A. 730.142
	First Unitarian Church and School Rochester, New York 1959-62, addition 1965-69 Perspective Showing Preliminary Proposal for Wall Hangings Pencil and colored pencil on Bristol board The Architectural Archives, University of Pennsylvania by the gift of the First Unitarian Church, Rochester aaup.208.4
	First Unitarian Church and School Rochester, New York 1959-62, addition 1965-69 Elevation Showing Revised Proposal for Wall Hangings Pastel on tracing paper mounted on diazotype print The Architectural Archives, University of Pennsylvania by the gift of the First Unitarian Church, Rochester aaup.208.5
[NO IMAGE AVAILABLE]	First Unitarian Church and School Rochester, New York 1959-62, addition 1965-69 Weaving Sample for Wall Hangings First Unitarian Church, Rochester
	First Unitarian Church and School Rochester, New York 1959-62, addition 1965-69 Elevation Showing Revised Proposal for Wall Hangings Pastel on tracing paper mounted on diazotype print The Architectural Archives, University of Pennsylvania by gift of the First Unitarian Church, Rochester
	Performing Arts Center Fort Wayne, Indiana 1959-73 Perspective of Upper Foyer Pencil and pastel on paper Louis I Kahn Collection, University of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission 030.I.A. 605.145
	A Street Is a Room 1969 Page from the “Silence & Light” sketchbook Pencil on paper Louis I. Kahn Collection, University of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
	Civic Center Studies Philadelphia 1956-57, unbuilt Bird's-Eye Perspective of Market Street Transformed Ink on tracing paper Louis I. Kahn Collection, University of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission 030.I.A.455.22