Louis Kahn: Architecture – theoretical conception and design teaching

Abstract

The historical existence of tensions and relationship complexities between theory and practice in the field of architecture – on the limit between academics and professional environment – where speeches tend to a distancing from reality, while its practice, lacking fundamentals that would confer legitimacy, faces the risk of ill-considered production, establishes a pendulum situation: theory x practice, rather than determining a relational form: theory and practice. Considering this way as a foundation, therefore fundamental when regarding architectural education, and more specifically design teaching, the article attempts to establish a connection between Louis I. Kahn’s work and theory and practices contemplating thoughts on the design teaching in architecture nowadays. Therefore, this article seeks to understand the stance adopted by Kahn – especially through the perception of his own discourse – regarding his production of architecture, which implies understanding how he interprets reality, how he defines the process to deal with the project problem and the subsequent unfolding in the way he teaches architecture; considered here as an example as it characterizes a clearly defined and transmissible process in which the interpretation of architecture is built, as an authentic second nature created by history, associated to basic values of modern design, but still relevant: humanism, social project and will of formal and technological renewal.

Keywords: Louis Kahn, architecture, theoretical conceptualization, design teaching.