Louis I. Kahn: Complete Work 1935-1974 – 2nd Revised & Enlarged Edition – 1994 Birkhäuser

Key Specifications:

• Authors: Heinz Ronner and Sharad Jhaveri.
• Publisher: Birkhäuser, Basel/Boston.
• Format: Large oblong quarto, hardcover in light grey linen cloth.
• Content: 437 pages containing 6,500 drawings, photographs, and detailed project chronologies.

Description Body:

This is the definitive monograph on Louis I. Kahn, covering his complete architectural output from 1935 until his death in 1974. Unlike standard surveys, this volume uses a chronological approach to document his work process through original sketches, developmental plans, and his own commentary.

Condition Details:

PLEASE SEE VIDEO for accurate view of condition. 

• Condition: Good to Very Good.
• Cover: Light grey linen cloth remains clean with black stamped illustrations.
• Interior: Pages are crisp and clean; no markings or underlinings.
• Binding: Solid and intact with hinges showing slight age-related stress.

Why This Edition is Highly Sought After:

• Comprehensive Documentation: It is considered one of the most important reference works on Kahn, documenting his career through roughly 1,700 drawings selected from a collection of over 24,000.
• Process-Oriented Insight: Unlike standard monographs that focus on finished projects, this book highlights the “transparency” of Kahn’s design process, featuring developmental sketches and personal commentary from just before his death in 1974.
• Rare Format & Scarcity: Known for its unique large oblong format and linen-bound cover, the second edition (specifically reprints like this 1994 version) is noted as a “rarely available collectors item” that frequently goes out of stock at specialty retailers.
• Scholarly Value: It provides an essential, non-interpretive primary source for researchers and architects, acting as a definitive “master list” of Kahn’s built and unbuilt works.