Kimbell Art Museum
Texas
Louis Kahn
1972
The Project
Louis Kahn's Kimbell Art Museum has caught the attention of many for its long archways and the light that seeps in from above. This design is simple, consisting of a series of arches but the use of light and shadow creates a striking space.Louis Kahn was an award winning architect born in 1901. He was born on an island off Estonia before moving to America with his family.His later work is what he is best know and for this is he is regarded alongside Le Corbusier as one of the lead innovators of the modernist style.
This structure is made up of six barrel vaults that run north to south. Three of said vaults are two thirds the size of the others with a large gap to their centre that acts as a courtyard like space. The final vault on the west side of this site is an open structure supported by columns. In essence all that remains is a roofed open space for people to sit and enjoy. This area acts as a stepping stone to the outside world. Some of the vaults have glass paneling at their ends while some are enclosed.This is illustrated in the images in this project. Kahn opted for cycloid vaults as opposed to semi circular vaults after discussing the issue with his structural engineer Dr August E. Komendant. The pair agreed that the cycloid vault wouldn't be as overpowering to the eye of the visitor so as not to take away for the art on display. This building is constructed of mainly concrete which lends itself to the playful use of light upon is relatively plain surface.The colour of the concrete used was given great consideration because Khan wanted a “soft gray with lavender tones”. The natural light enters this space through narrow gaps around the edges which have been cover with plexiglass.
Location
The Kimbell Art Museum is located in Fort Worth, Texas. The site is very large and allows for a generous outdoor space that surrounds the structure. The site is located in the cultural district and is surrounded by roads on four sides.The distance between the roads and the building means there is little infringement. The landscape architecture of this environment has allowed for a separation between the busy roads and the site without disturbing the light quality. The surrounding buildings are at most six or seven stories high but the generous spaces between each site means the effect they have on each other is small. The museum is orientated so that the long archways run from north to south.
Light and Shadow
The plexiglas above the arch allows for a soft emanating light to pour into the space. The purpose of having an aperture so high is not to allow people to look out but to allow light to pour into the space. Kahn wanted to emphasise the art within this space and even force people to view this space as an extension of that art.
Some parts of this building are very enclosed and inwardly. This is contrasted with the series of courtyards scattered throughout. A little haven full of light in the middle of a repetitive space. And then as one leaves the harsh Texas sunlight and returns in the more modestly lit vaults become the haven. This is because the light becomes a “cooler, silver tinted beam” when paired with the concrete vaults.The lighting in this space is not overwhelming and does not take away from the artwork on display but instead is subtle and calming. This building is entered from its west side and as shown in the photos below this area is covered quite generously in trees. This was used as a transitional space between the scorching heat and the moonlight quality of the internal space. It is clear to see that Louis Kahn had great attention to detail. He considers every aspect of this design with light at the forefront of his mind, from the positioning of trees to the shade of the concrete and even the shape of the curved vault, everything is considered, thought out and then applied
The Architect
Khan felt passionately about the connection between natural light and architecture and believed the two were not mutually exclusive. He believed that “A space can never reach its place in architecture without natural light”. Kahn is known for his love for light and nature and this building reflects that. Light and nature in general is something he has strived to incorporate into all of his projects
References
Louis I. Kahn Biography [Internet]. Kimbell Art Museum. [cited 2020Oct26]. Available from: https://www.kimbellart.org/content/louis-i-Kahn-biography
Stott R. Spotlight: Louis Kahn [Internet]. ArchDaily. ArchDaily; 2020 [cited 2020Oct26]. Available from: https://www.archdaily.com/334095/happy-112th-birthday-louis-kahn
Kimbell Art Museum by Louis Kahn in Texas [Internet]. ArchEyes. 2020 [cited 2020Oct26]. Available from: https://archeyes.com/kimbell-art-museum-louis-kahn/
Balakrishnan P. Looking at light in the Kimbell art museum [Internet]. Medium. Medium; 2020 [cited 2020Oct26]. Available from: https://medium.com/@priji/looking-at-light-in-the-kimbell-art-museum-3b85f2e3bc62
http://ljournal.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/a-2017-023.pdf. 2017;
