Customer Reviews

Louis I Kahn

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book on Kahn is essentially a "sequel" to McCarter's incredible book on Wright. McCarter traces the details of Kahn's projects and often uncovers little-known but important works. Like the book on Wright, this book focuses on the unfolding of Kahn's architectural philosphy through his career via a study of his built and unbuilt works. This discussion is immersed in the details of each project.

An unfair review of McCarer's previous book overlooked the fact that the lush descriptions and details are essential to grasping the architectual ideas and philosophy. I doubt the reviewer had the patience to work through the entire book. Often you need to study a floor-plan, then return to McCarter's text, then study it again to really understand McCarter is telling you. Thus this book is interactive; you must engage it as thoroughly as it engages you.

Yay, the floor plans are larger! My only criticism is that McCarter should have kept the layout the same as the Wright book. Pages lacking page numbers, references to photos far from the photos themselves, sideways text (???) on chapter headings, image subtitles far from the images themselves, and "backtracking" to give overviews of a project all create confusion. Therefore I disagree with the amazon reviewer, I find the content to be wonderful, but the layout poor, unlike Kahn's works.

I see many mentions of Le Corbusier. Perhaps another project for McCarter? I would buy it in a second.

IT IS A FANTASTIC BOOK AND DEFINATELY HAVE TO BE A PIECE OF THE KAHN FAN'S LIBRARY.

NICE TYPO AND BINDING. GOOD PICTURES AND TEXT - INCLUDING 3D RECONSTRUCTIONS OF THE UNBUILT MASTERPIECES.

MY ONLY NEGATIVE OBSERVATION ABOUT THE BOOK THAT IT IS NOT THE BOOK FOR THOSE WHO INTERESTED ABOUT THE PRIVATE HOUSES OF KAHN -THEY ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY MISSING.

great analysis and resource but redrawn CAD version of orgininal drawings somehow reduces clarity and meaning of 2D drawing set (line weight and landscape should be better redrawn)

great graphic and textual documentation, you can get a great insight of kahn's work: ground-plans, sections, sketches, drawings, photographs, including good explanations. a must-have

I purchased this book after watching "My Architect", a moving documentary by the illegitimate son of Louis Khan who was on a voyage of discovery - finding out who this man was who was his father. He travelled to many of the most famous pieces of architecture that Louis created and met many characters who had known his father and who had insights for him. As a result of this I was keen to get a book with a record of the amazing buildings he created. This book gives a good mix of information, architectural plans and drawings and then photos of his more famous buildings. As is usually the case with Phaidon productions it was beautifully put together and good value for money. I would thoroughly recommend it.

If you are to have just one book on Kahn, and anyone seriously interested in architecture ought to have at least one, this is the one.

A chronologically informative as well as a descriptive book on architectural works of the great and most definitely the greatest architect of the second half of the 20th century none other than Louis I. Kahn. Not only are the works with their "unmeasurable" qualities profusely spread throughout the pages in drawings and photographic images so are the biographical glimpses into the inner world of the architect. Fortunately, Louis I. Kahn gives us the true "sense" of the essence of architecture and still remains a much needed beacon especially in the living age of architecture, which has unfortunately, turned mostly into a vogue, pastiche and origami. This book is for anyone who is curious about the Art of Architecture with its built examples and its poet.

The great value of this book is in the very comprehensive coverage of Kahn's work and in the excellent reproduction of many drawings and photos. Taking all this wealth of material into account, the book has an affordable price.