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Louis Kahn and The Salk Institute Standing alone against the endless blue
sea, the Salk Institute by Louis I. Kahn is one of a kind. Louis Kahn's Salk
Institute for Biological Studies on the Pacific coast near La Jolla aspires
within its own spirit to an order achieved through clarity, definition, and
consistency of application(Heyer 195).
To many, this magnificent structure may
seem out of place, but it works well with the surrounding environment because of
the spatial continuity that it possesses. The relation to the site, the tectonic
characteristics, and the ideas of servant versus served, combine to achieve a
great sense of order in the Salk Institute.
Many of the ideas that went into the
construction of this design are still utilized in architecture today. Kahn's
modern design takes full advantage of the atmosphere by opening up a broad plaza
between two research and lab wings providing a view of the beautiful Pacific
Ocean and the coastline (Ghirardo 227).
The laboratories are separated from the
study areas, and each study has a view of the magnificent blue Pacific with
horizontal light pouring in.
This allows scientists to take a break from their
frantic studies and clear their minds with a breath-taking view. In relation to
this idea Kahn stated, I separated the studies from the laboratory and placed
them over the gardens.
Now one need not spend all the time in the laboratories (Ronner
158). The two lab wings are symmetrical about a small stream that runs through
the middle of the courtyard and feeds into the ocean. This steady ban of water
flowing towards the sea symbolizes the success that human can accomplish. I
thought this idea had a worthy presence, considering the Salk Institute is one
that promotes research and study.
Thus, the courtyard is considered the façade
to the sky. Kahn didn't need to dress up the land around the plan because the
Salk Institute is the landscape. It is one with the site. Kahn incorporates the
use of tectonic characteristics within this design in a number of ways. The
materials used included wood, concrete, marble, water, and glass, and they all
contributed to the Brutalist notions and simplistic plan. He believed that
concrete was the stone of modern man, and therefore it was to be left with
exposed joints and formwork markings (Ronner 164). Weathered wood and glass
combined with the concrete to construct the outside surface.
Kahn also
integrated mechanical and electrical services into this architecture, which gave
laboratories a new concept. These technologies were hidden in the design to
continue Kahn's search for order in the plan. Ceiling and column ideas were also
combined to separate the air that you breathe from the air that you throw away.
Interlocking volumes are present throughout the structure, all the way down to
the details on the furniture (Ghirardo 227).
The servant and served spaces in
the Salk Institute create a consistent order, which is evident throughout the
design. The laboratories act as the served spaces, while the servant spaces are
represented by the studies. All of the ideas are initiated in the studies or
offices, and the research is carried out in the labs. Therefore, the servant
spaces serve the served spaces. These are not the only ways that the served and
servant concepts are involved in the institute.
An idea that is still used to
this day in all forms of architecture is the way the Kahn guides the utilities
through the building in an unnoticeable manner. Served spaces and servant spaces
are entirely integrated (Scully 36).
Kahn also made a service floor under each
laboratory which established a very flexible space, and this concept is still
used today (Frampton 245). Overlooking the great Pacific, this is no ordinary
office building.
Louis Kahn used a combination of modern architecture with much
simplicity to produce arguably his greatest feat as an architect. A lot of
concepts that he initiated in this plan are still in use all over the world
today. The relation to the site, the tectonic characteristics, and the ideas of
servant versus served, all work together to achieve a great sense of order in
the Salk Institute.
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