La España de Kahn: un viaje y una ensoñación

Delgado Orusco, E. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Garcia Rubio, R.

Resumen: Aunque el interés de Louis Kahn por la arquitectura europea en general y española en particular es conocido y se encuentra bien documentado, no fue hasta 1972 cuando el arquitecto de Filadelfia visitó por primera –y única– vez nuestro país. Lo hizo con ocasión de la invitación cursada por la Feria de Barcelona para participar en las Jornadas Técnicas de la Construcción y el Urbanismo, celebradas en el Recinto de Montjuich del día 6 al 9 de junio de 1972. La singularidad de la visita del arquitecto norteamericano a España anima a descender al detalle de las Jornadas y su breve estancia en el país. Sin embargo, la relación de Kahn con España no termina en Barcelona. Su buena formación clásica, y la influencia de otros arquitectos, fomentaron su afición por los grandes ejemplos de la arquitectura española y, especialmente, con Granada y Córdoba. Hasta el punto de preparar un viaje específico para visitar estas dos ciudades, aunque su repentina muerte truncó esta nueva estancia. Pese a ello, el análisis de la obra de Kahn desvela ciertas influencias españolas y, con ello, el sueño de un viaje que nunca se realizó (al menos físicamente).

Louis kahn's interest in European architecture in general, and in the Spanish one particularly, is known and well documented. Yet, it was not until 1972 when the American architect visited our country. The reason was the invitation by the Barcelona Fair to participate in the Technical Conference about Construction and Urbanism, held in the Montjuich Campus from 6 to 9 June 1972. The singularity of this visit inspires to analyze in depth the Conference and his brief stay in Spain. Kahn shared the event with some of the most prominent architects at the time as kenzo Tange, James Stirling and Frei Otto. kahn gave the lecture titled "Architecture and human agreement", a deep talk where he expressed his concerns about the nature of art and architecture. After that, he spent some days visiting Barcelona where David Mackay, partner of the architecture studio MBM, showed him some of his works along with Antoni Gaudi''s masterpieces. Nevertheless, kahn''s relationship with Spain does not end in Barcelona. His classical education, and the influence of other architects, encouraged his enthusiasm for the great examples of Spanish architecture and, especially, with Granada and Cordoba. Up to the point to prepare a specific trip to visit these two cities two years after his visit to Barcelona. Yet work problems suspended momentarily this travel and his unexpected death a few weeks later ended with this dream trip. Despite of that, the analysis of the work of kahn reveals certain Spanish influences. For example, the relation between central space of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla with the Court of the Myrtle of the Alhambra; or the geometrical solutions of the First Unitarian Church of Rochester or the Dominican Motherhouse in Media with the Palace of Charles V. All these relations express the interest and knowledge of kahn about f the Spanish architecture but also, the desired of trip never realized (at least physically).

Idioma: Español

DOI: 10.15581/014.19.111-116

Año: 2017

Publicado en: RA Revista de Arquitectura 19 (2017), 111-118
ISSN: 1138-5596

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.101 - Visual Arts and Performing Arts (Q3) - Architecture (Q4)

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Proyectos Arquitectónicos (Unidad Predepartam. Arquitect.)