I’ve always dreamed of hosting a website dedicated to the incredible architecture I’ve visited worldwide. It’s a mystery why I waited this long to put my dream into action. Anyways, here we are…My first article is about the Salk Institute, a splendid architectural landmark in La Jolla, California.
Visiting an architecture landmark
In architecture school, we all learned how Louis Kahn generously laid the master plan of the Salk Institute, inviting the ocean and sky into the daily lives of researchers. We visited the site on a Monday after lunchtime. The weather was a typical Southern California day, with an endless blue sky and bright sunlight that turned every white object into a potential blinding weapon. The surroundings were tranquil as we exited Highway 5 at Exit 29, with the ocean at the end of the road.
Tranquil. That’s my first impression of the Salk Institute.
Arrival and first impressions
Parking spots were abundant, and Blacks Beach Park was beside the site. Approaching from the parking lot on the east side, we found the fountain first. White concrete and teal blue water—how delicate. If you’re familiar with the iconic photo of the Salk Institute, navigation won’t be a problem. We walked around the entire site from the south side and entered through the main entrance in the east. Passing through the eucalyptus groves and walking up the stairs, the outside world quieted down, and we found ourselves at the visitor center.
Sky, Water, Concrete, Nature
Stepping outside the visitor center, we heard the subtle sounds of water flowing. The River of Life is the first thing that welcomes you. Before visiting, I heard many comments on how surreal the place is. Seeing the combination of white concrete and a drop of teal blue is like viewing a postcard from Greece with a twist of modern architecture. However, these comments often fail to reveal how nature and manufactured structures coexist harmoniously here.
Seagulls stroll the site, sipping water from the River of Life. While we captured the architecture with our camera lenses, it seemed the seagulls were also admiring the beauty.
The essence of the salk institute
Two mirroring towers set the tone of the institute. Every center unit faces the Pacific Ocean, embracing the ocean view with teak wood window frames. The pozzolanic concrete brings a warm pink hue to the site as you stroll along the cloisters under the mirroring towers, making it feel like a rhythmic hide-and-seek game with the sunlight.
a true landmark
As a functioning research laboratory, the Salk Institute allows self-directed tours in the public area and docent-led campus tours three days a week. Though only permitted in the public area, I felt incredibly grateful for this visit. The Salk Institute redefined my impression of architecture. Instead of being an artificial structure that sabotages the grandeur of nature, it presented the possibility of architecture and nature complementing one another. The Pacific Ocean’s blueness seems more profound with the contrast of pinkish concrete; the sound of the waves feels more healing with the quietness in the plaza. Tranquil, indeed, Salk Institute.
📎 Visit Salk Institute:
Location: 10010 N TORREY PINES RD, LA JOLLA, CA 92037
Opening Hours:
Docent-Led Campus Tours: 10 am & 11:30 am
Every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Official Website: https://www.salk.edu/about/visiting-salk/
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