NEWS Louis Kahn: The Power of Architecture Synagogue (1961-1972, unbuilt, Philadelphia, USA). Kahn’s clever use of concrete in each of Exhibition at London Design Museum his projects is well represented in this section through the use of different materials in London, UK, 9 July – 12 October 2014 models and drawings. Apart from the aesthetics of the building, Kahn was also concerned with the elements Louis Kahn: The Power of Architecture is a conse- studies relating the structure of the building that surround every construction, which led quent review and historic summary of Louis to science, with the ultimate result being the us to the “Grounding. Earth, water, wind, I. Kahn’s life, 20 years after the last exhibition project (unbuilt) of the City Tower (designed light” part, where we can find the best rep- about him1. This exhibition, compiling the in collaboration with Anne Tyng, 1952-1957, resentative projects designed by him, related main works and research projects of Kahn, is Philadelphia, USA) whose structure directly to nature. This is seen through his utilization a full experience that allows the public to get evokes the DNA formula. This part ends with of colorful expressive sketches of projects: to know the life of one of the most important the comparison between drawings and the The General Motors Exhibit at the 1964 American architects of the 20th century2. timber models of the Alfred Newton Rich- World’s Fair (1960-1961), the Salk Institute for The starting point of the exhibition is a ards Medical Research and Biology Buildings Biological Studies (1959-1965, La Jolla, USA) chronological list of projects (1926-1974) of (1957-1965, Philadelphia, USA), the Library and the Kimbell Art Museum (1966-1972, Fort Kahn, entailing his works as a design consul- and Dining Hall at Phillips Exeter Academy Worth, USA). tant, unbuilt and constructed projects as well (1965-1972, New Hampshire, USA) and the The final segment, “Group form. The logic as urban plans, publications and exhibition Yale Center for British Art (1969-1977, New of assembly”, closes the travelling around material, that reveal a professional life full of Haven, USA), where one can see the devel- of Kahn’s professional life with the under- ups and downs. opment of Kahn’s new alternative ways of standing of the logic behind each building. The core of the exhibition is divided into building with concrete. Besides the factors already discussed, Kahn 58 – 2018/1 six different topics: “City. Philadelphia as ur- Controlling concrete and receiving major conceived space in various ways compared ban laboratory”, “House. Regional planning”, commissions for significant projects promot- to the Modern Movement ideas, which “Science. The world as structure”, “Eternal ed Kahn to the “Eternal present. Ruins and created hierarchy within the overall form, present. Ruins and archetypes”, “Ground- archetypes”. With influence from Rome and distinguishing “servant” and “served” spaces, its solid and timeless constructions, Kahn docomomo ing. Earth, water, wind, light” and “Group turning each building into a unique and form. The logic of assembly”. The first one, was able to endorse the meaningful mass varying experience for the individual. Taking “City. Philadelphia as urban laboratory”, and weight of architectural buildings such as into consideration the surrounding environ- is dedicated to the urban plans of the city Sher-e-Bangla Nagar (1962-1983, Dhaka, Ban- ment, timelessness and people, it results in where Kahn lived, studied and maintained gladesh), Hurva Synagogue (1967-1974, Jeru- the creation of exclusive ambiences whereby his office. He was a pioneer with radical salem, Israel), Indian Institute Management Kahn exposes the true materiality of con- and visionary concepts for the reconstruc- (1962-1074, Ahmedabad, India), Memorial crete, timber and glass construction. The First tion of the inner city of Philadelphia, with to the Six Million Jewish Martyrs (1966-1972, Unitarian Church and School building (1959- reasonable success in the construction of his New York, USA, unbuilt) or the Mikveh Israel 1969, Rochester, USA), Fine Arts Center (1961- News ideas. Showing plans, perspective drawings and conceptual schemes, this part of the exhibition shows the dedication of Kahn to his own city’s future. Followed by “House. Regional planning”, the public enter into a differently scaled realm of Kahn’s architecture in Philadelphia, since all of his houses were constructed in and around the city. Study drawings with colors, schemes and annotations are revealed in this section, demonstrating the impor- tance of the house for Kahn, and how he always has envisioned it as an institution. The exhibition also offers a unique opportu- nity to appreciate a partial true scale replica of the window ledge with a bench of the Norman and Doris Fisher House (1960-1967, Hatboro, USA). From the houses, the exhibition contin- ues to “Science. The world as structure” where one can assist to the Kahn’s analogy between architecture and natural sciences. The public can find drawings of geometric 01 Louis Kahn: The Power of Architecture, London Design Museum, London, UK. 88 02 Louis Kahn: The Power of Architecture, London Design Museum, London, UK. 03 Louis Kahn: The Power of Architecture London Design Museum, London, UK. 58 – 2018/1 docomomo 04 Louis Kahn: The Power of Architecture, London Design Museum, London, UK. 05 Louis Kahn: The Power of Architecture, London Design Museum, London,UK. © Catarina Andrade, 2014. © Catarina Andrade, 2014. 1973, Fort Wayne, USA), Eleanor Donnelley Notes Erdman Hall (1960-1965, Bryn Mawr, USA) 1 Louis I. Kahn: In the Realm of Architecture. Curators: David B. Brownlee and David G. DeLong. and Jewish Community Center (1954-1959, Between 20 October 1991 and 1 February 1994, the New Jersey, USA) prove this. exhibition was featured in the Philadelphia Muse- News The exhibitionLouis Kahn: The Power of um of Art, the Centre Georges Pompidou (Paris), the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Architecture allows the public to understand Museum of Modern Art (Gunma), the Los Angeles each dimension of Kahn’s work, conclud- County Museum of Art, the Kimbell Art Museum ing that each concern is connected to and and the Wexner Certer for the Arts (Ohio). belongs to a whole. The elements presented 2 The exhibition is a cooperation between the Vitra Design Museum, the Architectural Archives of in the exhibition are able to give a general the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and view of his method of designing, as well as an the NAI part of The New Institute, Rotterdam. understanding of the powerful influence of Between 7 September 2012 and 5 November 2017, the exhibition was at the NAI, the Vitra Design each building without seeing them in person. Museum, the Oslo National Museum, the London All of this is complemented by a catalog3 that Design Museum, the Taipei Museum of Fine goes deeper into these themes, with essays Art, the Bellevue Arts Museum, the San Diego Museum of Art, the Kimbell Art Museum and The justifying the importance of Kahn’s work – Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philadelphia. the perfect complement to an inspiring and 3 Mateo Kries, Jochen Eisenbrand, Stanislaus von powerful exhibition. Moos (ed.), Louis Kahn – The Power of Architecture, Weil am Rhein, Vitra Design Museum, 2013. See the Book Review section of this issue. Catarina Andrade 06 Louis Kahn: The Power of Architecture, London Design Museum, London, UK. 89 NEWS Plastic Components in Modern Buildings. In her talk on “Petroleumscapes”, Carola Hein, TU Delft Chair of History of Archi- Researchers and Practitioners Discussed tecture and Urban Planning, showed how the international petroleum industry has History and Conservation at TU Delft been instrumental in the promotion of ISC/Technology Seminar synthetic building materials in their search for new markets. Pointing at various social TU Delft, the Netherlands, 23 October 2017 parameters such as the implications of the employment of women in the war industry, The degradation of plastic building compo- examples. He proposed the results of the requiring efficiency in housekeeping and nents — and claddings in particular — is an meeting be published as the 14th docomomo easy-to-clean materials, she claimed that increasing challenge in heritage buildings. Re- Preservation Technology Dossier. the introduction of plastics was driven by search and the development of appropriate The morning session “Exploring the stakeholders from the industry rather than strategies for the architectural conservation, Field” was moderated by Uta Pottgiesser by consumers and designers. restoration and replacement of synthetic (UAntwerp), Chair of the ISC/T. She gave The conservation of plastics in art works building components is still in its infancy. an overview of the aspects for consider- was presented by Thea van Oosten, who has This was reason enough to stage a one-day ation in the conservation and (re-)design of worked as a senior conservation scientist international seminar, Plastics in Modern Move- synthetic materials: "We will highlight the with the Dutch National Heritage Agency ment Buildings. Conservation and (Re-)design of history and the impacts of petroleum-based RCE. She has been involved in the conser- Synthetic Building Components focusing on the materials: architecturally in aesthetic and vation of many plastic art objects coping exterior applications in the building envelope constructive terms, globally and locally re- with various material configurations. She and as prefabricated elements. The seminar lated to urban and economic development, underlined the importance for the conserva- took place on October 23rd, 2017, at the Facul- and technically taking into account the tionist to have detailed information about the original manufacturing of the object, as this 58 – 2018/1 ty of Architecture and the Built Environment chemistry, manufacturing and sustainability. at TU Delft, the Netherlands. It is important to develop strategies as an has a key impact on the material properties The event was organized in collaboration interdisciplinary approach." and specifications.