The sun never knew how great it was until it hit the side of a building.
Louis KahnRead
A great building must begin with the unmeasurable, must go through measurable means when it is being designed and in the end must be unmeasurable.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of both intangible inspiration and tangible processes in creating great architecture.
Louis Kahn highlights the paradox in architecture where a truly great building starts from an initial idea or vision that cannot be quantified, proceeds through practical, measurable design elements, and ultimately transcends quantification to become an experience that resonates on a deeper level. This reflects the journey of creative processes whereby inspiration and tangible reality must coexist and evolve together.
Themes
ArchitectureDesignCreativityInspirationProcess
In practice
Example use cases
During a presentation on architectural philosophy, one might use this quote to illustrate the balance between creative vision and practical execution.
More from Louis Kahn
All quotes βI sense a Threshold: Light to Silence, Silence to Light - an ambiance of inspiration, in which the desire to be, to express, crosses with the possible Light to Silence, Silence to Light crosses in the sanctuary of art.
Louis KahnRead
Greek architecture taught me that the column is where the light is not, and the space between is where the light is. It is a matter of no-light, light, no-light, light. A column and a column brings light between them. To make a column which grows out of the wall and which makes its own rhythm of no-light, light, no-light, light: that is the marvel of the artist.
Louis KahnRead
The room is the beginning of architecture.
Louis KahnRead
Architecture is the reaching out for the truth.
Louis KahnRead
The creation of art is not the fulfillment of a need but the creation of a need. The world never needed Beethoven's Fifth Symphony until he created it. Now we could not live without it.
Louis KahnRead
Similar quotes
Why has Scandinavia been producing such good thrillers? Maybe because their filmmakers can't afford millions for CGI and must rely on cheaper elements like, you know, stories and characters.
Roger EbertRead
Great music is its own movie, already. And the challenge, as a music fan, is to keep the song as powerful as it wants to be, to not tamper with it and to somehow give it a home.
Cameron CroweRead
We tend to think and feel in terms of the art we like; and if the art we like is bad then our thinking and feeling will be bad. And if the thinking and feeling of most of the individuals composing a society is bad, is not that society in danger?
Aldous HuxleyRead
The artist part of me always wants to be appreciated. I read every review. But I never wanted to seek validation by awards or anything controlled by politics.
Nipsey HussleRead
Dreaming about being an actress, is more exciting then being one.
Marilyn MonroeRead
Musicians want to be the loud voice for so many quiet hearts.
Billy JoelRead