Kahn's Spain: a journey and a daydream

Journal: RA Revista de arquitectura nº19
Chapter: Kahn's Spain: a journey and a daydream
Date: 2017
Authors: Eduardo Delgado Orusco y Rubén García Rubio
Pages: 111-116

Although Louis Kahn's interest in European architecture in general and Spanish in particular is well known and well documented, it was not until 1972 when the architect of Philadelphia visited our country for the first and only time. He did so on the occasion of the invitation given by the Barcelona Fair to participate in the Construction and Urban Planning Technical Conferences, held at the Montjuich Campus from June 6 to 9, 1972. The uniqueness of the American architect's visit to Spain he encourages to descend to the detail of the Days and his brief stay in the country. However, Kahn's relationship with Spain does not end in Barcelona. His good classical training, and the influence of other architects, encouraged his fondness for the great examples of Spanish architecture and, especially, with Granada and Cordoba. To the point of preparing a specific trip to visit these two cities, although his sudden death cut short this new stay. Despite this, the analysis of Kahn's work reveals certain Spanish influences and, with it, the dream of a trip that was never made (at least physically).