‘Louis I. Kahn: The Nordic Latitudes’ Book Launch and Reception with Per Olaf Fjeld
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
5:30 pm
Kroiz Gallery, Architectural Archives
220 South 34th Street at Smith Walk (lower level of Fisher Fine Arts Library Building)
Admission is free and open to the public
Louis I. Kahn: The Nordic Latitudes is a new and personal reading of the architecture, teachings, and legacy of Louis I. Kahn from Per Olaf Fjeld’s perspective as a former student. The book explores Kahn’s life and work, offering a unique take on one of the twentieth century’s most important architects. Kahn’s Nordic and European ties are emphasized in this study that also covers his early childhood in Estonia, his travels, and his relationships with other architects, including the Norwegian architect Arne Korsmo. The authors have gathered personal reflections, archival material, and other student work to offer insight into the wisdom that Kahn imparted to his students in his famous masterclass. Louis I. Kahn: The Nordic Latitudes addresses Kahn’s legacy both personally and in terms of the profession, documents a research trip the University of Pennsylvania’s Louis I. Kahn Collection, and confronts the affiliation of Kahn’s work with postmodernism. Read more about Louis I. Kahn: The Nordic Latitudesfrom the publisher.
Per Olaf Fjeld is a professor at The Oslo School of Architecture and Design and runs a small studio with his wife Emily Randall Fjeld. His architectural education took place in the United States, where he received his master’s degree under Louis I. Kahn at the University of Pennsylvania. Later, he returned as the recipient of a Fulbright –Hays grant to conduct research on Kahn. Fjeld is the author of numerous books and articles among them: Sverre Fehn; The Pattern of Thoughts (The Monacelli Press, NY) which illuminates the work of the Pritzker Prizewinning architect with whom he both worked and taught. He has lectured throughout the world. He served as dean at The Oslo School of Architecture for two terms, and the recipient of an honorary professorship from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 2010. He was awarded Knight 1st class in the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav in 2019. He also served as the president of the European Association on Architectural Education for three years.
Presented by the Architectural Archives at the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design, the University of Arkansas Press and the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas.