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Louis Kahn

Louis Kahn Quotes

Architect

Louis Kahn, born on February 20, 1901, and died on March 17, 1974, was one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. Known for his unique modernist style and profound philosophical thinking, Kahn's works have had a profound impact on architecture.

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Famous Louis Kahn Quotes

“Even a room which must be dark needs at least a crack of light to know how dark it is.”

Knows Needs Light Dark Rooms Know How Cracks

Author:Louis Kahn

“Greek architecture taught me that the column is where the light is not, and the space between is where the light is. It is a matter of no-light, light, no-light, light. A column and a column brings light between them. To make a column which grows out of the wall and which makes its own rhythm of no-light, light, no-light, light: that is the marvel of the artist.”

Matter Light Artist Grows Space Taught Wall Architecture Rhythm Greek Columns Space Between

Author:Louis Kahn

“I sense Light as the giver of all presences, and material as spent Light. What is made by Light casts a shadow, and the shadow belongs to Light.”

Made Light Materials Shadow Casts Giver

Book:The Art Museums of Louis I. Kahn

Source: The Art Museums of Louis I. Kahn

“I sense a Threshold: Light to Silence, Silence to Light - an ambiance of inspiration, in which the desire to be, to express, crosses with the possible Light to Silence, Silence to Light crosses in the sanctuary of art.”

Art Light Inspiration Desire Silence Crosses Sanctuary Threshold Ambiance

Author:Louis Kahn

“Architects in planning rooms today have forgotten their faith in natural light. Depending on the touch of a finger to a switch, they are satisfied with static light and forget the endlessly changing qualities of natural light, in which a room is a different room every second of the day.”

Different Light Today Natural Forget Rooms Quality Fingers Forgotten Planning Satisfied Architect Static Every Second Natural Light

Author:Louis Kahn

“Also marvelous in a room is the light that comes through the windows of a room and that belongs to the room. The sun does not realize how beautiful it is until after a room is made. A man’s creation, the making of a room, is nothing short of a miracle. Just think, that a man can claim a slice of the sun.”

Thinking Men Doe Made Light Beautiful Realizing Rooms Sun Creation Window Miracle Claims Marvelous

Author:Louis Kahn

“All material in nature, the mountains and the streams and the air and we, are made of Light which has been spent, and this crumpled mass called material casts a shadow, and the shadow belongs to Light.”

Has Beens Made Light Air Materials Mountain Mass Shadow Casts Streams

Author:Louis Kahn

“We are born of light. The seasons are felt through light. We only know the world as it is evoked by light.”

Knows World Light Felt Born Seasons

Author:Louis Kahn

“Just think, that man can claim a slice of the sun.”

Thinking Men Light Sun Claims

Author:Louis Kahn

“How precious a book is in light of the offering, in the light of the one who has the privilege of this offering. The library tells you of this offering”

Book Light Library Privilege Offering

Author:Louis Kahn

“A room is not a room without natural light.”

Light Natural Rooms Natural Light

Book:Global architecture

Source: Global architecture

About the Author

Born: February 20, 1901
Died: March 17, 1974
Known for: Architect
Quotes: 41

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Architecture Light Rooms Want Architect Made Art Building Doe Sun Firsts Knows Men Mind Space Thinking Walks Wall World Architectural Design

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Books & Sources

Global architectureRelated source material

The Art Museums of Louis I. KahnRelated source material

Louis I. Kahn: Talks with StudentsRelated source material

Louis I. Kahn: l'uomo, il maestroRelated source material

ルイス・カーン: 発想と意味Related source material

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