Inspiration IX


1997
An Historical Analysis
of Louis I Kahn's
Dominican Motherhouse of St. Catherine de Ricci
Quondam

It is not difficult to recognize the presence of architectural history within many of Kahn's building designs, and perhaps credit is due him for manifesting the most rigorous application of architectural history in modern building design. Although thoroughly modern in its juxtaposition and join(t)ing of individual building components, the Dominican Motherhouse of St. Catherine de Ricci confirms nonetheless Kahn's keen intuition regarding architecture's past.





The following examples illustrate two sources that may have inspired Kahn's convent design. The first source is, of course, Piranesi's Ichnographia of the Campo Marzio, and the second source is Viollet-le-Duc's Dictionnaire raisonne de l'architecture francaise du XIe au XVIe siecle, especially the precise drawings within the Dictionnaire's many volumes

Regarding the influence of Piranesi's Ichnographiam of the Campo Marzio, the resemblance between Kahn's plan composition and the portion of the roman map that depicts the "collision" of the Porticus Neronianae, the Horti Valeriani, and the Horti Salustiani is the most convincing evidence.

The influence of Violettet-le-Duc's Dictionnaire raisonne may first be apparent in the comparison of the plan of the Chateau de Chambord and Kahn's convent plan after the removal of the internal skewed building components, which leaves only the dormitory wings and the entrance / administration "tower." Clearly both compositions expressly articulate the corners, albeit the geometry changes from circular to rectilinear, yet the most believable indication of direct inspiration may be the central round staircase that is common to the entrance towers of both designs.

Another possible example of the Dictionnaire raisonne's influence comes with the comparison of the Chateau de Cousy and the plan of the convent. Again, both plans exhibit articulated corners, but the real connection is the manner in which each example resolves the issue of hierarchy among the constituent building parts.