The Evolution of a Building Complex

This is the first book to examine the entire Salk Institute complex which is often considered to be Kahn’s most important commission. An in-depth examination, focusing on the design development, is offered of the built Laboratory building, the unbuilt Meeting House, the unbuilt Visiting Fellows residences and of the overall site planning of the complex, with Jonas Salk’s role in the decision-making process is highlighted.

This book is also a study of the Institute in the context of Kahn’s entire architectural career and new observations are offered of his major works. It is the product of over forty years of on-and-off thinking about Louis Kahn’s work based on research at the Architectural Archives at the University of Pennsylvania and the Special Collections Library at the University of California at San Diego. The 194 images, of which 95 are in colour, include newly published photos of the Institute, plus extensive selections from the Kahn archive. A design and construction chronology is provided, as well as documentation such as Jonas Salk’s 1984 AIA memorial lecture in honour of Louis Kahn, plus an extensive bibliography.