4 ms·

Anyone here worked at the Salk Institute? Are the buildings as good to work in as they are to look at? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salk_Institute_for_Biologi

by wycx 10y ago

Anyone here worked at the Salk Institute? Are the buildings as good to work in as they are to look at? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salk_Institute_for_Biological_Studies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salk_Institute_for_Biological_...

et-al 10y ago
I'm personally hesitant to call Louis Kahn's Salk Institute Brutalist. I know many define Brutalism simply as buildings with large swaths of raw concrete, which probably qualifies 95% of modernist architecture. For me, I consider concrete oppressiveness, a certain level of heaviness, to be involved in Brutalism. The Salk Institute, in contrast, has lightness and openness. I never got a chance to go inside, or work there, but when I visited a few years ago, and it seemed like the offices had generous windows; however the wood frames were definitely weathered and could have used more care. It's was gorgeous to walk around and I recommend somehow scheduling a tour if you happen to be in La Jolla (San Diego). http://www.salk.edu/events/tour-information/ http://www.salk.edu/events/tour-information/
- PhasmaFelis 10y ago
  > I'm personally hesitant to call Louis Kahn's Salk Institute Brutalist. I know many define Brutalism simply as buildings with large swaths of raw concrete, which probably qualifies 95% of modernist architecture. For me, I consider concrete oppressiveness, a certain level of heaviness, to be involved in Brutalism. The Salk Institute, in contrast, has lightness and openness. It sounds like you're saying "it can't be Brutalist, because it's good." A bit No True Scotsman, perhaps?
  - et-al 10y ago
    Ha, I can see that interpretation. I just think the "raw concrete" definition for Brutalism is too general. If one designs a Deconstructivist building with raw concrete, does it all of a sudden make it Brutalist? Of course the terms aren't mutually exclusive, and we'd probably stroke our chins and mutter "hmmmm.. deconstructivist with brutalist tendencies, eeehhh?" (And personally, I've always enjoyed Brutalist buildings; having studied in a few.)

by wycx 10y ago

et-al 10y ago

I'm personally hesitant to call Louis Kahn's Salk Institute Brutalist. I know many define Brutalism simply as buildings with large swaths of raw concrete, which probably qualifies 95% of modernist architecture. For me, I consider concrete oppressiveness, a certain level of heaviness, to be involved in Brutalism. The Salk Institute, in contrast, has lightness and openness. I never got a chance to go inside, or work there, but when I visited a few years ago, and it seemed like the offices had generous windows; however the wood frames were definitely weathered and could have used more care. It's was gorgeous to walk around and I recommend somehow scheduling a tour if you happen to be in La Jolla (San Diego). http://www.salk.edu/events/tour-information/ http://www.salk.edu/events/tour-information/

PhasmaFelis 10y ago
> I'm personally hesitant to call Louis Kahn's Salk Institute Brutalist. I know many define Brutalism simply as buildings with large swaths of raw concrete, which probably qualifies 95% of modernist architecture. For me, I consider concrete oppressiveness, a certain level of heaviness, to be involved in Brutalism. The Salk Institute, in contrast, has lightness and openness. It sounds like you're saying "it can't be Brutalist, because it's good." A bit No True Scotsman, perhaps?
- et-al 10y ago
  Ha, I can see that interpretation. I just think the "raw concrete" definition for Brutalism is too general. If one designs a Deconstructivist building with raw concrete, does it all of a sudden make it Brutalist? Of course the terms aren't mutually exclusive, and we'd probably stroke our chins and mutter "hmmmm.. deconstructivist with brutalist tendencies, eeehhh?" (And personally, I've always enjoyed Brutalist buildings; having studied in a few.)