Al-Qadisiyah Journal for Engineering Sciences

Monumentality and dominance in Louis Kahn’s architecture

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Sura M. A. Al-Hayali 1
Asmaa H. T. Al-Dabbagh 2

1 Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq.

2 Department of Architecture Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq.

10.30772/qjes.2024.153370.1377
Abstract
Dominance in architecture is defined as the superiority and predominance of an element or group of elements over the rest in the composition, which causes its attractiveness to the recipient/viewer. The dominant elements often include the basic idea of the architectural work and carry a set of design characteristics. The research assumes that there is a fundamental causal relationship between the monumentality of the buildings and the presence of the design characteristics that causes dominance. Thus, the aim was to verify the presence of these characteristics in the projects of the architect (Louis khan), and to find out the reasons of dominance that most obvious and which were the reasons of the monumentality of his works. The research adopted a descriptive approach by using a questionnaire for architects. The results showed the presence of dominance on both total and partial levels of design in his projects due to the types of basic shapes, because of their constant presence in the mind and their large size. At the spatial level, the dominance caused by the complete repetition of the elements and their important functions.

Keywords

Louis Kahn
Architecture
Dominance
Monumentally
Visual attraction
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Al-Qadisiyah Journal for Engineering Sciences
Volume 18, Issue 2
Spring 2025
Pages 183-189

  • Receive Date 05 September 2024
  • Revise Date 10 September 2024
  • Accept Date 11 May 2025

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