Video: Louis Kahn Talks to a Brick

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In this jaunty little clip, Louis Kahn stresses the importance of honoring your materials to a group of students at the University of  Pennsylvania. 

Estonia-born in 1901, had a steadfast belief that all materials had their own destiny and wouldn’t tolerate any attempt to deviate from that. During the age of clean modernism and the use of cutting edge materials, his architecture was often dismissed for being overly symbolic and heavily venerating buildings of the past. Influenced by the arid nature of many of his sites, Kahn’s buildings often took the form of cavernous brick shells with large geometrical cut outs, which he would like to describe them – in his bizarre Kahn-way - as ruins in reverse.

Here are a few of Kahn’s intriguing brick creations:

For more information about Kahn and his brick channeling abilities you can read this rather excellent article by the Guardian’s Olly Wainwright, entitled “Louis Kahn: the brick whisperer“. 

AD Round Up: Brick Architecture

© Robert Leš

For today’s Round Up, we’ve selected projects that feature  in their design. Here’s five you can’t miss, such as the great Pope John Paul II Hall by Randić & Turato, a building designed for Pope’s visit to Rijeka, Croatia. Also, check out Three Courtyard Community Centre by chinese practice AZL architects or Sra Pou Vocational School in Cambodia, designed by Rudanko + Kankkunen . Revisit, De Eekenhof, a housing project in Amsterdam by Claus en Kaan Architekten. Finally, is never late to review the Indian Institute of Management by Louis Kahn, one of our AD Classics.

Mediatheek Delft / Dok Architecten

Courtesy of ; © Arjen Schmitz

Architecture Firm: Dok Architekten
Architect: Liesbeth van der Pol
Location:  centrum-Delft-Vesteplein 100-2611 WG Delft,
Design Team: P. Cannon, M. Hardonk, R. Bos, A. Koch, A. Derksen
Client: Gemeente Delft 
Photographer: Arjen Schmitz 

   

AD Round Up: Brick Houses Part III

Courtesy of Tao Lei Architect Studio

For today’s Round Up we have some great houses previously featured in ArchDaily. Here’s five you can’t miss:  The Concave House located at the downtown area in Benxi,China or Qb Design’s Split Level House in Philadelphia. Check out the House VdB in and Brick-Weave House by Studio Gang Architects. Finally, revisit the Brick House designed by Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan.

AD Classics: Melnikov House / Konstantin Melnikov

© www.flickr.com / llatpic

The Melnikov House by architect Konstantin Melnikov is a classic residence that represents the forefront of the 1920’s Russian avant-garde. Located on Krivoarbatsky Lane in the then trendy district of Arbat, on an open lot, its aesthetics differ dramatically from traditional Soviet residential architecture. More details after the break.

AD Classics: Muuratsalo Experimental House / Alvar Aalto

©

Soon after the passing of his wife in 1949, Alto began the design for a summer getaway for himself on the western shore of island Muuratsalo, Finland. Through the process of designing the house, it became an experimental study of materiality, architecture construction and philosophies.

More on ‘s Experimental House after the break.

 

Pilgrim Route Refuge / Luis Aldrete

Francisco Perez

Architects: Luis Aldrete
Location: ,
Project Team: Magui Peredo, Cynthia Mojica
Project Year: 2010
Photographs: Francisco Perez

Indiana Convention Center Expansion / RATIO Architects

© Bill Zbaren Photography

Architect: RATIO Architects
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana,
Project Area: 700,000 sq ft
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: Bill Zbaren Photography

In 2006, the Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority selected RATIO Architects to create a major expansion to the Indiana Convention Center as a response to ongoing increased convention and trade show demand. The more than 700,000 sq. ft. expansion includes exhibition space, meeting rooms, and pre-function and support space – all within a tight urban site in the heart of Indianapolis, directly connected to 4,700 hotel rooms and within easy walking distance of restaurants, retail shops and at the head of a new pedestrian/event street. More about the Indiana Stadium and Convention Building after the break.

University Hygienic Laboratory / OPN Architects

© Wayne Johnson, Main Street Studio

Architect: OPN Architects
Location: Coralville,
Project Year: 2010
Photographs: Wayne Johnson, Main Street Studio 

Designed for the University of Iowa, the Hygienic Laboratory was designed by and was completed in 2010 as a collaborative and interdisciplinary laboratory facility.  In addition to both closed and open laboratory space, the complex features traditional academic functions such as office space, workspaces, and group meeting space.  More images and architect description after the break.

On the Brewery / LEVS Architecten

© Marcel van der Burg – primabeeld

Architects: LEVS Architecten
Location: ,
Client: ING Real Estate Development
Project Year: 2010
Project Area: 16,000 sqm
Photographs: Marcel van der Burg – primabeeld

Kirkwood Horticulture Building / OPN Architects

© Wayne Johnson, Main Street Studio

Architect: OPN Architects
Location: , Iowa
Project Year: 2009
Photographs: Wayne Johnson, Main Street Studio 

Designed by OPN Architects, the Kirkwood Horticulture Building at Kirkwood Community College is a 40,000sf facility that houses the burgeoning floral and horticultural program for its host school.  In addition to typical academic programs such as lecture halls, office space, student commons, and laboratory facilities, the complex also includes an 8,500sf greenhouse for production.  More images and architect description after the break.

Iron Horse Hotel / The Kubala Washatko Architects

© , Inc.

Architect: The Kubala Washatko Architects
Location: Milwaukee,
Project Year: 2008
Photographs: The Kubala Washatko Architects 

Designed by the Kubala Washatko Architects of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, the Iron Horse Hotel is an upscale boutique hotel that caters to motorcycle enthusiasts and travelers.  The 100,000sf project was completed in 2008 as a refurbishment to an existing factory — more images and architect description after the break.

780 Brewster / Lemay associés

© Claude-Simon Langlois

Architects: Lemay associés
Location: Montréal,
Client: Groupe Mach
Project Team: Louis T. Lemay (Partner in Charge), André Cardinal (Architect, Senior Partner, Project Manager), Pierre E. Leclerc (Senior Architect, LEED AP), Sandra Neill (Associate Designer), Chantal Ladrie (Designer), Marie-Élaine Globensky (Graphic Design And Signage)
General Contractor: Construction TEQ inc.
Engineers: Bouthillette Parizeau & Associés (electro-mechanical engineering) and les Consultants Gemec inc. (civil/structural engineering)
Sustainable Development: Lyse M. Tremblay, architect, LEED AP
Project Year: 2007
Project Area: 12,000 sqm
Photographs: Claude-Simon Langlois

Colin Powell Middle School / Legat Architects, Inc.

© James Steinkamp

Architect: Legat Architects, Inc.
Location: ,
Construction Manager: Louis Jones Enterprises, Inc.
Technology/Audio-visual/Security/Geothermal Feasibility Consultant: KJWW Engineering Consultants
MEP/Structural/Civil Engineer: Globetrotters
PhotographsJames Steinkamp

Designed by Legat Architects, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois, the 122,000sf Colin Powell Middle School is an academic facility that serves grades 6-8 for Illinois School District 159.  According to the architect, “The design of Colin Powell Middle School responds to the client’s desire to provide a progressive symbol of education to its students and community.  Energy efficiency, environmental conscientiousness, and openness were all driving factors in the design.”  More images and description after the break.

Kings College Library / Mitchell Taylor Workshop

Courtesy of

Architects: Mitchell Taylor Workshop
Location: Somerset,
Mechanical and Electrical Engineer: Buro Happold
Contractor: RG Spiller
Project Area: 800 sqm
Photographs: Courtesy of Mitchell Taylor Workshop

Leazar Hall Renovation + Additions / Cannon Architects

© JWest Productions, LLC

Architects: Cannon Architects
Location: Raleigh, , USA
Structural Engineer: Kaydous-Daniels Engineers, PLLC
PME/FP/Civil Engineer: Edmondson Engineers, PA
Landscape Architect: OBS Landscape Architects
General Contractor: Riley Contracting Group, Inc.
Project Year: 2007
Project Area: 62,000 sqf
Photographs: JWest Productions, LLC

National Parliament Principality of Liechtenstein / Hansjoerg Goeritz Architekturstudio

© Jürg Zürcher

Architects: Hansjoerg Goeritz Architekturstudio
Location: Vaduz,
Collaborators: Anne-Claire von Braunmühl, Stefan Höpfinger, Mario Bearth, Marc Berliat, Fritz Eggenberger
Local Architects: FrickArchitekten AG
Project Year: 2008
Photographs: Jürg Zürcher
Products used in this project: FSB, Door & windows hardware.

Dundee House / Reiach and Hall Architects

© Dave Morris

Architects: Reiach and Hall Architects
Location: Dundee,
Structural Engineer: Buro Happold
Main Contractor: Bovis Lend Lease
Project Year: 2011
Project Area: 12,500 sqm (Gross Internal Floor Area)
Photographs: Dave Morris, Paul Zane,

Golden Mile / LEVS Architecten

© Allard van der Hoek

Architects: LEVS Architecten
Location: , The Netherlands
Client: Syntrus Achmea Vastgoed
Project Year: 2009
Photographs: Allard van der Hoek

Rishikesh House / Rajiv Saini

© Sebastian Zachariah

Architects: Mr. Rajiv Saini
Location: ,
Project Year: 2010
Project Area: 640 sqm
Photographs: Sebastian Zachariah

AD Classics: Rothko Chapel / Philip Johnson, Howard Barnstone, Eugene Aubry and Mark Rothko

© Photo by Chris Erdos - http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris-erdos/

In 1964 Mark Rothko was commissioned by John and Dominique de Menil (who are also founders of the nearby Menil Collection that is housed in the Renzo Piano-designed Menil Museum and Cy Twombly Gallery) to create a meditative space filled with his site-specific paintings. The original architect assigned to work alongside Rothko was Philip Johnson, with whom Rothko clashed over their distinct ideas for the building. Rothko would object to the monumentality of Johnson’s plan as distracting from the artwork it was to house. For this reason the Chapel would go through several revisions and architects working on the meditative space. Rothko continued first with Howard Barnstone and then Eugene Aubry, but ultimately did not live to see the chapel’s completion in 1971. It was after a long struggle with depression that Rothko committed suicide in his New York Studio on February 25th, 1970.