Architecture Beyond Presence: Lessons from Louis Kahn
By: Elsie PierronMay 2023Khans' writing was firmly informing the readers of his architectural philosophies and the components sculpting them. Splitting his writing into sections, including Joy, The Unmeasurable and the Measurable, Knowledge, Order, Light, Form and Design, The Plan, Materials, The Wall and the Column, The School, and The Architect, gave me a strong understanding of what architecture is to him. From the perspective I was reading from it was very easy to follow along and understand what Khan was trying to tell his readers. His holistic views on the mentality that architecture needs to be created and conveyed once made are a powerful purpose for Khan's passions. While reading, I agreed and could relate to a lot of what he was saying because I also view reality from a very psychological standpoint. I enjoy analyzing the underlying reasons for their effects and the purpose behind their creation. From what I could understand, Khan does something similar with the purpose of architecture.
I have grasped that Khan believes the starting point of all architecture is joy. In today’s age, for an architect to produce a piece of work that they are proud of, they need to feel passion and joy while working. Another way to be motivated is by the joy the final product brings. Joy is a strong word that people often downplay, but Khan described it to its full potential. I was hooked on the writing after reading the first section; I am a person who survives off joy. My mental health, energy, and drive are fueled by the little joys in my life. So when Khan wrote, “-the stream of joy that must be felt. Otherwise, you really don’t feel anything.” I understood that feeling and could instantly relate to his writing. His section on knowledge stirred my curiosity and passion to learn. Sometimes I feel unmotivated when surrounded by other students who project intelligence. I often doubt my abilities and wonder if I will ever reach their level or achieve success. It’s a fleeting thought that usually vanishes quickly, but that bit of insecurity is still scary. Kahn's writing on the natural power of knowledge, however, proves to me that it is acquired through work and is also based on a lot of people's natural intuition. He tells his readers to trust our intuition but also trust our knowledge.
Now I understand that knowledge and joy are two key necessities for creating architecture. Those are easy for the designer or architect to measure. He knows the joy he feels and understands the knowledge and intuition he possesses. The unknown is the impact and success rate of the actual structure he is creating. This is where I believe it is most important to trust the architect's natural instinct when creating a work. Because the impact it will actually have is immeasurable. It will be different for everyone, some may love while others hate. But that is how the world is, and it is the architect's job to model the world and create diversity in opinions, ways of life, and morals. People are especially unique, and it would be wrong to create something that makes everyone happy. I believe it is impossible. What the architect can do is create a work of art that doesn’t make sense. Something that is unmeasurable. Khan made claims throughout his writing that prove this point. By saying the definition of “order is” and “Form is impersonal; Design belongs to the designer” and “A great building… must begin with the unmeasurable, must go through measurable means when it is being designed, and in the end must be unmeasurable” also “architecture has existence, but it has no presence” and finally “The way one does things is private, but what one does can belong to everybody”. In my mind, Architects are like silent heroes. Only the most famous are known by name, most known only for their work or known by the name of their building. However, there are so many buildings in the world that are unrecognized. Buildings that may not be so spectacular, but were still designed and worked on. In theory, those buildings have no meaning; the measurable aspect might be the price or location. In reality, that building might be the most important structure in someone's life. It could be the keeper of a special moment, the shell of memory. Those qualities are immeasurable. So the architect's process, work, and dream might have been silenced, but the remaining structure continues to live. That was one of my biggest takeaways from Khan's writing. As an aspiring architect, I strive to be known by name, but I also understand that if I’m not, I will still be contributing to society. My hope is that I can create buildings with valuable measurable qualities that enhance society but also have that special flair of unmeasurable. I hope people are drawn to my work because of the passion that shines through my designs. If my little joys can grow up and become a motivator for others' joy, then I would consider my job as an architect successful.
When Khan wrote “the beginning of any established activity is the most wonderful point,” my first reaction was to reflect on some of my first moments, right now sitting in a new coffee bar, I had my first lavender cappuccino from Origin. It was delicious, and I am now prompted to come back. My first moments hold the strongest memories and trigger responses in my mind, whether good or bad. But I don’t think I’ve ever regretted a beginning moment. Now I’m realizing that it is true because it is the most wonderful point. It’s when I fall in love with a feeling. To relate that in architectural terms, things are created for a reason. It is that beginning that inspires architects to build a coffee shop, build a school, or build the tallest skyscraper in the world. Marvelous creations come to life when the designer draws inspiration from a wonderful moment.