ART/ARCHITECTURE - Louis Kahn

Could modern architects not learn to work with traditional materials while retaining the forms and the spirit of our own times? This is the question so beautifully answered by one of the greatest of all modernists, the American architect Louis Kahn.
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FURTHER READING
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“Kahn was born in Russia in 1901 and emigrated with his parents to the US at the age of 3. As a young man he studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, but his career truly blossomed in the 1950s after a trip to Rome led him to a new appreciation of the beauty of Roman architecture. Kahn’s major contribution to modern architecture was to include ancient elements in his work without losing the innovation and clarity of modernism. He reminded the Modernists that they could be in dialogue with their most illustrious predecessors…”
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CREDITS
Produced in collaboration with:
Mad Adam Films
Title animation produced in collaboration with
Vale Productions
www.valeproductions.co.uk/

[@juliank3534]

I love allain de botton's voice

[@tubeyou89119]

Who doesn't... Morgan Freeman, Alain de Botton and David Attenborough are three greatest voice in my view.

[@fraserrobsonwilliams9779]

Me too! I miss his voice very much in some of the other School Of Life videos.

[@yanpinglin5672]

Can’t agree more

[@justiniani3585]

Those videos devoted to specific Artists/Writers/Philosophers are easily my favorite

[@IKEMENOsakaman]

Louis Kahn was the king of introverts. But he gave us introverts an important hint - if we use our talents in the right direction, we introverts can survive through this world, and reach greatness. Thank you, Mr. Kahn.

[@Xavyer13]

And also secretly have three different families

[@probalroychowdhury9272]

Not just survive but thrive...

[@ArtAkshat]

He was not an introvert man.

[@MrCassett]

I needed this so much! Thank you! 🙂

[@KJS988]

I know next to nothing about the man other than what I heard on this video. How was he an introvert?

[@thinclient5318]

Finally the voice I've been waiting for.

[@vittorioconte1582]

Louis I Kahn was the man who designed the parliament building of Bangladesh 🇧🇩 where I'm living now. We love and respect him 💝.

[@marcodiepold8620]

How did you come to Bangladesh?

[@rafajahinhossain]

Hey. I am also from Bangladesh.

[@shyankhan_]

the reason why i clicked on this video!

[@tubeyou89119]

First time to see and learn about that building. It is indeed magnificent!!

[@tolloromassi99]

But that country s..ucks. Can't stand the blaring earr...ape of the azan from thousand different mosques, 5 times a day, 365 days a year!!!

[@nc8913]

I’m just happy to hear Alain’s voice again ☺️. His voice is so soothing, it’s been awhile.

[@fairdose]

I visited the National Assembly building in Dhaka as an 11 year old. At the time, I had no idea about Louis Kahn, I just thought they were really cool, awe-inspiring buildings. I didn’t realize the significance of Kahn and those buildings until I saw the Oscar-nominated documentary “My Architect” by Kahn’s son Nathaniel.

[@shuvo7912]

Me too

[@NFAnisha]

This man went to a war-torn impoverished country in the 70s and stayed there for a while to design their national parliament building, a landmark that houses the sense of democracy of that country. I am Bangladeshi and I am eternally grateful for the parliament building he designed for us. No camera can capture the true beauty of the entire complex. The way Kahn integrated the waterbody, the natural light, the acoustics in the design- being inside the building transports you to a different world altogether. Thanks, maestro!

[@pietervoogt]

The thing is, you see the beauty of these buildings only once you have been convinced that they are beautiful and accepted certain values, like that ornament is bad and minimalism is good. Also they work best as isolated statements surrounded by nature. These limits are a big problem. Because most of us like ornament and most of us live surrounded by many buildings, not in a remote modernist villa. And when you see it everywhere, the monotonous concrete is not serene anymore, it is just depressing. And no matter how much you tell us that we should feel different, we feel relieved when we leave a minimalist neighborhood and reach the rich and organic architecture of the 19th century or earlier.

[@sobrevida157]

I once heard it described this way. World War II traumatized the entire world. The artists and writers and architects who grew up during that time created un-human works. Sort of like, 'You want ugliness? You got it!' So, graphic art lost form; music lost melody, dance lost grace, writers lost plot, and architects designed protective bunkers inspired by trauma. Now we. later generations, are traumatized by these works. . . I don't know if it's true, but it makes sense to me.

[@karlik4861]

Im not buying it, Kahn´s architecture is just glorified Brutalism

[@95GuitarMan13]

The rare Architecture Series addition is always a treat. More please!

[@muhammadtanvir5298]

Our Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban or National Parliament House is so beautiful (Bangladesh 🇧🇩). The architect is Mr. Louis Kahn.

[@musfiqurrahman4576]

We Bangladeshis are grateful to Kahn. And thank you, The School of Life. It's even more refreshing to hear Alain de Botton's voice again.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

I love Kahn’s work - I only discovered him later in life - sadly he seems to often be overlooked - perhaps because of the unfashionable nature of some of his more brutalist works.

[@felipefva]

I absolutely love these videos about great thinkers and their fields, wish TSOL kept doing more of these

[@legal040]

i've missed these videos, they were my favorite kind

[@medhachoudhury3967]

Video about art , discussing fusion of modern and ancestral, voiced by Alain himself - things do get better I guess. I'm glad you decided to voice this, after so long 😍

[@Anarcath]

Nice to hear Alain’s voice again, even if I don’t really care that much about architecture.

[@nichootin]

really like the architecture series! would love one about carlo scarpa too!

[@jonizajmi9992]

When Bangladesh was under attack from Pakistan during their war for independence, the pakistani air force didnt bomb the Dhaka parliment building - then under construction - since it seemed to them from above like the ruins of an ancient fortress. To think that if Kahn wasn't the author of that building things wouldve gone very different. His contribution wasnt just to architecture alone.

[@lucianolizana446]

I'm an Architect and subscriber of this channel for about 2 years now... first Neimeyer now Khan... This is so cool !

[@SHIVAAAA100]

Im so glad you all have started to make these videos again.

[@brickscornelio2750]

Mr. Kahn is my all time favorite architect.

[@rickrose5377]

I was a 21-year-old undergraduate when one of Kahn's last buildings opened to the public, the Yale Center for British Art, with galleries illuminated by sunlit atria (and retail space at street level). His modern Yale Art Gallery connected to OLD Street Hall, was one of the first building I frequented as a freshman. And my routine every day had me in buildings that had been designed by Eero Saarinen and Paul Rudolph -- cool, functional modernist stuff -- in addition to a lot of faux-revivalist stuff: Beaux Arts and American Collegiate Gothic. Then I would trundle off to lectures by Vincent Scully. It was an eye-opening trip, and I didn't have to mortgage my future to make it. I bussed tables and worked in record stores, and graduated without student debt. We hadn't yet fucked American youth by making education unaffordable. Thank you, Republicans, for mortgaging an educated America to pander to greed and capitalism.

[@tchaivorakfauresohnsieg9532]

The series is back, hope you make more of it, many greats yet to be covered

[@probalroychowdhury9272]

Please do more videos like this about authors, artists and architects

[@btpips]

Ohh I've missed your voice, I'm so glad you're back!

[@archipiphanyworkshop860]

As a disciple of architecture, my love for the discipline was truly incepted by Le Corbusier in encyclopedias at single figure age. That love bloomed and flourished when I visited Salk Institute. This video articulately describes the genius of Kahn and the reason why he’s my inspiration.

[@karunawoodroad5673]

Boy, I missed de Botton’s narration so much!!

[@ArthurCSchaper]

I really missed your videos focusing on individual artists, writers, and other intellects. Keep making these excellent videos!

[@riverside4339]

Fascinating video, we need more of these

[@ala7048]

Highly inspiring as always. Keep this Art series flowing ~

[@martynpotter21]

Ah yes, Alain is back! And discussing art and architecture!

[@rokonuddin9596]

Kahn's best work is the parliament building of Bangladesh.Mass people of Bangladesh respect him as like as the famous Bangladeshi architect Fazlur Rahman khan.

[@vividist]

Happy to hear Alain's voice again!

[@mike_dunno]

Monumentality works quite rarely, but when it does, its breathtaking. As an architecture student, I still have somewhat of a fear of symmetry, but maybe I´ll learn..

[@John3v8]

My FAVOURITE Architect!!!!

[@laurasalado2429]

Yes!!! I’m so glad sol is putting out these videos again :)

[@chriscyrelestil304]

I just love it when Alain narrates the video. 😁

[@jonnhygringo2]

I missed these Art/philosophy/literature videos soooo much on School of Life!

[@nightman8612]

Thanks for the video, Alain! How would you feel about exploring automotive/product design? The beloved object society idolaze, the classic contemporary designs, etc.

[@saranbhatia8809]

Master Architect timeless architecture inspiration for all times!!

[@nias3202]

Thank you😍 I love your videos on art! I would be really interested in a video: School of Life - the people behind our videos. Have a good day!

[@hassansleiman6604]

Finally we hear Alain's voice!

[@divyanshjain180]

Thank you ☺️

[@Anto_81]

This video makes me cry for so many reasons.. too many and too private.

[@kambrose1549]

An architect friend used to say there's such a thing as good manners in architecture. All the modern insults to our need for beauty suggest that there are bad manners too

[@j.c.8944]

Your voice again!😃

[@justinchipman1925]

Kahn was brilliant. We studied him like crazy at RPI. He was also an intense and almost maniacle man who had three families. His insane personal life doesn't detract from his brilliance as an architect. If anyone wants to know more about him, watch a documentary called "My Architect." It is made by one of his children. I think the son of a woman that Kahn was with when he was married to his second wife. It's nuts and beautiful.

[@peace_dude7594]

Architecture series this sooo amazing I finished philosophy series 1 year ago and my Architecture degree too

[@Schwaaaang]

I'm losing my mind. This is all my favourite things in one video. Old and new architecture clashing. Modern materials, ancient thought. This silky voice. Gonna go get an architecture degree brb

[@carolinecodilla8580]

I hope to see you in the field someday!

[@blessieyang8070]

Ah you made me fall in love with me degree!

[@Oiseaux_rebelle]

I very much like your narrative style

[@harshitsonkar1451]

Finally a video with Alain's voice😍

[@aryanchaudhary930]

Please make a video on Abu 'Ali al-Husayn ibn Sina, who is better known in Europe by the Latinized name “Avicenna.” He is probably the most significant philosopher in the Islamic tradition and arguably the most influential philosopher of the pre-modern era.

[@VIK_1903]

Wasn't he born in Estonia????????????

[@mariagarciacastillejo4083]

Maybe the misunderstanding is because at that time was still part of the Soviet Union. But I guess no Estonian would like to be assumed Russian

[@JohannaMTougu]

At that time it was the Russian Empire. But indeed, he was born in Saaremaa Island, Estonia. ​@@mariagarciacastillejo4083

[@mbb2725]

More of architecture series please

[@lifechallengs2315]

nice to hear your own voice on videos sir ❤️ we missed u

[@Shadow-nk5ml]

Missed these type of videos

[@nabinbista4213]

it is very infomative video . much appreciation

[@MarufHossenRAJSHAHI]

Thanks for Sharing.

[@somethingyousaid5059]

My body is a condemned house, that's all.

[@CarlosMettal69]

Excelente 👊

[@btpips]

The Kimbell art museum being possibly the most beautiful building in the world is possibly thee boldest statement I think I have ever heard in my life. I love you Alain but that is ridiculous.

[@YasinNabi]

an awesome edited video, sound is good too :)

[@dannysze8183]

amazing

[@SammersYT]

A great man!

[@elisavieira737]

Nice interesting video, thanks

[@camdenbeahan-smith9226]

Love the background music of this, does anyone know what it is?

[@varunprakash6207]

Art & Architecture are Shows our art and creativity of our ancient people Ancient art vs morden art The sculpture shows Aesthetic values of art

[@ruben9912]

All we have to do is decide what to do with the materials that have been given to us!

[@mbox314]

The problem with traditional building materials is that in order to meet earthquake standards they need to be loaded up with steel reinforcement to the point where they are an expensive vener. Steel concrete and glass are honest materials that are not pretending to be somthing they are not.

[@halwitt4656]

I missed your voice Allain!!

[@hakimdiwan5101]

TSOL is the only channel I know fighting to save and restore beauty of architecture.

[@imsrvdas]

How could someone forget the magnificent IIM Ahmedabad infrastructure designed by Kahn himself.

[@speedy_gonzales5139]

It is shown at 3:10

[@fuadiyanu800]

Allain de bottom voice is awesome

[@ereppo2]

Loius Kahn was born in Estonia, not Russia

[@dino_matt]

That is quite a hot take you snuck in at the end that the kimball is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

[@cafebrasileiro]

the soundtrack feels like a bond movie

[@ahmedalmostafa1342]

I love your voice

[@arianjnbz2009]

Allen dobatten voice ❤❤

[@Jader7777]

Wow, these are some amazing prisons.

[@pancakeeatinginarow]

Wow

[@DJS11811]

You forgot the library at Exeter.

[@IAmACommonPerson]

There are spam bots, $ex bots, and now I see in the comments self-help Inspo bots?! (Wonder which will reply to my comment first I’m betting it’ll be a $ex bot)

[@raaziyashaikh2658]

please make one for Zaha hadid

[@TheMactoni]

He was born in Saaremaa Estonia

[@juliusevola2801]

Would really appreciate a video on mussolini and fascism.

[@m.r.h5644]

louis kahn wasnt born in russia, he was borm in Estonia. he is american-estonian.

[@sebastianflores7224]

Does some know the song?

[@josephasghar]

The Romans might have something to say about your opening statement that concrete is a modern medium.

[@Arbachin1998]

He is the architect of Bangladesh Parliament

[@colepena5629]

the building in india looks like something out of dune

[@hereigoagain5050]

Is there a topic that Alain cannot make a video?

[@misiit]

what is the song name? its a jam

[@misiit]

I cant concentrate on what the guy says the music is too good man

[@lotfibouhedjeur]

I wish Allain de Botton could narrate my life. Maybe I'll like it better then.😂

[@nargisurmi1234]

No! you guys misspelt our beloved city as dakar 😢 its Dhaka..yeah its spectacular and epitome of excellence Though it is not that sustainable,, we need to spend a lot of money for its maintenance cost..thats the biggest weak point of this great building

[@itsgonnabeanaurfromme]

Does every school of life video have to contain the word "virtue"

[@dereksilvers9177]

IIM Ahmedabad is also designed by him

[@Xavyer13]

Papa Kahn Excelsior

[@moukhjabalenur342]

4:33 parliament building of Bangladesh

[@dannistor7294]

...was the la Jolla Institute (among other works) designed by someone who "cared about good architecture"? Go there, spend two days in that bleak compound and then find the right adjective...True, the work looks good enough photographed, or in video clips...