Louis Kahn, Salk Institute, La Jolla, California, 1959-1965 - Assignment Example

Salk Institute The Salk Institute is regarded as one of the most poetic buildings in the United s. Jonas Salk foundedit in the year 1959; he was popular at that time because he founded the polio vaccine. Salk wanted to develop a facility that would enable researchers to study the basic life principles. He hoped that the Salk Institute would create a space where biologists and their counterparts would work in harmony (The Salk Institute and Elsewhere). He also hoped that the Salk Institute would drive biologists to put into considerations the wider implications of their discoveries and its impacts on humanity (Salk.edu).The Salk compound is at the centre of the large courtyard that has identical concrete rows of laboratory space and offices.

At the end of the courtyard is a magnificent view of the Pacific, coupled with the soothing fountain sounds. Designed by Louis Khan, the courtyard is the main highlight of the site. The courtyard is inspired by Louis Barragan, a Mexican architect. Khan had initially planned to have plants and trees at the courtyard but was advised by Barragan against that decision (Treib). It enabled Khan to come up with a stone plaza that created an open feeling with the large sky; it also had a water feature (Anderson).

Originally, the buildings were built by different cement mixtures with various colors; this is evident in the basement of the complex. Khan introduced wood to compliment with the cement. Inside, the buildings have no walls; this is a promotion of collaboration. The basement has one floor with another two floors existing above it, on both sides (Anderson).Lighting fixtures in the form of easy slide rails have also been used to promote collaboration. Roman techniques are evident in the architecture as the concrete was created from volcanic ash to create a pinkish glow.

Each laboratory block consists of five study towers each containing offices, but those at the entrances consists of only two study towers. The diagonal walls enable each of the thirty-six scientists in the studies to have a view of the Pacific. The original design of this complex had conference buildings and living quarters but were never built.Works CitedAnderson, John. San Diego for Free – Salk Institute For Biological Studies – An Architectural Gem Nestled Above The Pacific. San Diego Free Press. N.p., 2012. Web. 16 Feb. 2015.Salk.edu,.

Salk Institute - About Salk - Architecture Tour Information. N.p., 2015. Web. 16 Feb. 2015.The Salk Institute and Elsewhere. Science 249.4973 (1990): 1092-1093. Web.Treib, Marc. To End A Continent: The Courtyard Of The Salk Institute. Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians 65.3 (2006): 402-427. Web.Wade, N. Salk Institute: Elitist Pursuit Of Biology With A Conscience. Science 178.4063 (1972): 846-849. Web.