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Ely Jacques Kahn

January 01, 1970

Ely Jacques Kahn (June 1, 1884 – September 5, 1972) was an American commercial architect who designed numerous skyscrapers in New York City in the twentieth century.[1] In addition to buildings intended for commercial use, Kahn's designs ranged throughout the possibilities of architectural programs, including facilities for the film industry. Many of the buildings he designed under the 1916 Zoning Resolution feature architectural setbacks[2] to keep the building profitably close to its permitted "envelope"; these have been likened to the stepped form of the Tower of Babel.[3][4] Kahn is also known for his guidance to author Ayn Rand.

Ely Jacques Kahn
Born(1884-06-01)June 1, 1884
New York City, US
DiedSeptember 5, 1972(1972-09-05) (aged 88)
New York City, US
Alma materColumbia University
OccupationArchitect
SpouseElsie P. Kahn
ChildrenJoan Kahn
Ely Jacques Kahn, Jr.
Olivia Kahn
RelativesRena Rosenthal (sister)

Life and career edit

Kahn was born in New York, the only son of a prosperous Austrian and French-American Jewish family. His sister Rena Rosenthal brought design wares from Europe to sell in New York, perhaps providing his earliest introduction to design. Ely Jacques Kahn traveled to Europe where he was aware of the work of architect Josef Hoffmann.[5] He graduated from Columbia University in 1903 and later was a professor at Cornell University.[6] Kahn was the father of noted New Yorker magazine writer Ely Jacques Kahn, Jr., and great-grandfather of Ely Jacques Kahn IV, former Director of Cybersecurity Policy at the White House.[7]

Kahn's partnership with Albert Buchman lasted from 1917 until 1930. In this period his work alternated Beaux-Arts with cubism, modernism, and art deco, of which examples are 2 Park Avenue (1927), using architectural terracotta in jazzy facets and primary colors, the Film Center Building in Hell's Kitchen (1928–29) and the Squibb Building (1930), which Kahn considered among his best work.[8] In what has become an iconic photograph, Kahn masqueraded as his own Squibb Building with other architects dressed as buildings for the Beaux Arts Ball of 1931.[9][10] The building moved decisively away from the decorative modernity of the Art Deco 20s: Lewis Mumford praised it in 1931 as “a great relief after the fireworks, the Coney Island barking, the theatrical geegaws that have been masquerading as le style moderne around Manhattan during the last few years.”[8]

As research for The Fountainhead, author Ayn Rand worked in Kahn's office,[11] where Kahn arranged for her to meet Frank Lloyd Wright.[12] Kahn, who had taken full control of the practice of Kahn & Buchman in 1930, as Ely Jacques Kahn Architects, produced some commercial skyscrapers that combined traditional massing with a skin pared of all details, such as the 42-storey Continental Building (1931) at Broadway and West 41st Street.[13]

 
Municipal Asphalt Plant

In 1940, he formed a partnership with Robert Allan Jacobs, the son of architect Harry Allan Jacobs. An exemplary work of this period is the Universal Pictures Building of 1947 which was used by Reyner Banham to illustrate air conditioning.[14] Another is 100 Park Avenue; the firm later assisted on the Seagram Building. In 1944, Kahn and Jacobs rendered a prosaic program, the Municipal Asphalt Plant, at FDR Drive between 90th and 91st Street, as a free-standing concrete structure with four parabolic steel arches.[15] For the New York Stock Exchange Building annex into 20 Broad Street, Kahn & Jacobs created additional facilities in 1956 designed with their characteristic zig-zag of setbacks in the upper stories.[16]

Kahn's work just after World War II had direct relevance to Judaism. In 1946, he began a renovation of Manhattan's Central Synagogue.[17] In 1947, he wrote on the subject of design principles for synagogues in an article entitled, "Creating a Modern Synagogue Style: No More Copying."[18] In 1948, with sculptor Jo Davidson, Kahn made the first public plan for a Holocaust memorial in the United States.[19] The chosen site for this project in Riverside Park later bore other projects for memorials by Percival Goodman, and Erich Mendelsohn.

Although Kahn retired some years earlier, the firm of Kahn & Jacobs lasted until 1973, the year after Kahn's death.[20]

Kahn's extensive architectural drawings and papers, including materials from the firms Buchman & Kahn and Kahn & Jacobs, are held in the Department of Drawings & Archives at the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library at Columbia University.

References edit

Notes

  1. ^ Stern, Jewel and Stuart, John A. Ely Jacques Kahn, Architect: Beaux-arts to Modernism in New York, Norton, 2006, ISBN 0-393-73114-6
  2. ^ Ferriss, Hugh. The Metropolis of Tomorrow, Princeton Architectural Press, 1986, p. 166 ISBN 0-910413-11-8
  3. ^ Krasznahorkai, László (2006). War & War. New York: New Directions. pp. 215–18. ISBN 0-8112-1609-8.
  4. ^ Bedoire, Frederic. The Jewish Contribution to Modern Architecture: 1830-1930, KTAV Publishing House, 2004, pp. 436-438, ISBN 0-88125-808-3
  5. ^ Stern, Robert A. M.; Gilmartin, Patrick; Mellins, Thomas (1987). New York 1930: Architecture and Urbanism Between the Two World Wars. New York: Rizzoli. pp. 551–558. ISBN 978-0-8478-3096-1. OCLC 13860977.
  6. ^ "Kahn & Jacobs architectural drawings and records, 1893-1965". Columbia University Libraries. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  7. ^ "Emelyn Northway, Ely Kahn IV". The New York Times. August 9, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "745 Fifth Avenue" on The City Review website
  9. ^ Koolhaas, Rem, Delirious New York: A Retroactive Manifesto for Manhattan, Monacelli Press, 1994, p. 128, ISBN 1-885254-00-8
  10. ^ Goldberger, Paul. The Skyscraper, Knopf, 1981, p. 79, ISBN 0-394-50595-6
  11. ^ Mimi Reisel Gladstein, The New Ayn Rand Companion, Greenwood, 1999, p. 41, ISBN 0-313-30321-5
  12. ^ Stern 2006, p. 179
  13. ^ The Continental Building[dead link]
  14. ^ Banham, Reyner. Architecture of the Well-Tempered Environment, University of Chicago Press, 1984, p. 223 ISBN 0-226-03698-7
  15. ^ "This bold work of 'industrial architecture' has not been matched in New York for bald functional and esthetic logic." AIA Guide to New York City (1st ed.) New York: Macmillan, 1968. p.181
  16. ^ on Emporis
  17. ^ Shulman, Ken. "Restoring the Soul" July 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Metropolis (October 2000)
  18. ^ Kahn, Ely Jacques. "Creating a Modern Synagogue Style: No More Copying", Commentary (June 1947)
  19. ^ Young, James. The Texture of Memory: Holocaust Memorials and Meaning, Yale University Press, 1994, p. 290, ISBN 0-300-05991-4
  20. ^ Stern 2006, p. 56

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ely Jacques Kahn.
  • Ely Jacques Kahn papers, 1906-1986, (bulk 1906-1972).Held by the Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, Columbia University.
  • Kahn & Jacobs architectural drawings and papers, circa 1893-1965, (bulk circa 1893-1950) held in the Department of Drawings & Archives Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library
  • Hohenems Genealogy Database


January 01, 1970
jacques, kahn, june, 1884, september, 1972, american, commercial, architect, designed, numerous, skyscrapers, york, city, twentieth, century, addition, buildings, intended, commercial, kahn, designs, ranged, throughout, possibilities, architectural, programs, . Ely Jacques Kahn June 1 1884 September 5 1972 was an American commercial architect who designed numerous skyscrapers in New York City in the twentieth century 1 In addition to buildings intended for commercial use Kahn s designs ranged throughout the possibilities of architectural programs including facilities for the film industry Many of the buildings he designed under the 1916 Zoning Resolution feature architectural setbacks 2 to keep the building profitably close to its permitted envelope these have been likened to the stepped form of the Tower of Babel 3 4 Kahn is also known for his guidance to author Ayn Rand Ely Jacques KahnBorn 1884 06 01 June 1 1884New York City USDiedSeptember 5 1972 1972 09 05 aged 88 New York City USAlma materColumbia UniversityOccupationArchitectSpouseElsie P KahnChildrenJoan KahnEly Jacques Kahn Jr Olivia KahnRelativesRena Rosenthal sister Life and career editKahn was born in New York the only son of a prosperous Austrian and French American Jewish family His sister Rena Rosenthal brought design wares from Europe to sell in New York perhaps providing his earliest introduction to design Ely Jacques Kahn traveled to Europe where he was aware of the work of architect Josef Hoffmann 5 He graduated from Columbia University in 1903 and later was a professor at Cornell University 6 Kahn was the father of noted New Yorker magazine writer Ely Jacques Kahn Jr and great grandfather of Ely Jacques Kahn IV former Director of Cybersecurity Policy at the White House 7 Kahn s partnership with Albert Buchman lasted from 1917 until 1930 In this period his work alternated Beaux Arts with cubism modernism and art deco of which examples are 2 Park Avenue 1927 using architectural terracotta in jazzy facets and primary colors the Film Center Building in Hell s Kitchen 1928 29 and the Squibb Building 1930 which Kahn considered among his best work 8 In what has become an iconic photograph Kahn masqueraded as his own Squibb Building with other architects dressed as buildings for the Beaux Arts Ball of 1931 9 10 The building moved decisively away from the decorative modernity of the Art Deco 20s Lewis Mumford praised it in 1931 as a great relief after the fireworks the Coney Island barking the theatrical geegaws that have been masquerading as le style moderne around Manhattan during the last few years 8 As research for The Fountainhead author Ayn Rand worked in Kahn s office 11 where Kahn arranged for her to meet Frank Lloyd Wright 12 Kahn who had taken full control of the practice of Kahn amp Buchman in 1930 as Ely Jacques Kahn Architects produced some commercial skyscrapers that combined traditional massing with a skin pared of all details such as the 42 storey Continental Building 1931 at Broadway and West 41st Street 13 nbsp Municipal Asphalt Plant In 1940 he formed a partnership with Robert Allan Jacobs the son of architect Harry Allan Jacobs An exemplary work of this period is the Universal Pictures Building of 1947 which was used by Reyner Banham to illustrate air conditioning 14 Another is 100 Park Avenue the firm later assisted on the Seagram Building In 1944 Kahn and Jacobs rendered a prosaic program the Municipal Asphalt Plant at FDR Drive between 90th and 91st Street as a free standing concrete structure with four parabolic steel arches 15 For the New York Stock Exchange Building annex into 20 Broad Street Kahn amp Jacobs created additional facilities in 1956 designed with their characteristic zig zag of setbacks in the upper stories 16 Kahn s work just after World War II had direct relevance to Judaism In 1946 he began a renovation of Manhattan s Central Synagogue 17 In 1947 he wrote on the subject of design principles for synagogues in an article entitled Creating a Modern Synagogue Style No More Copying 18 In 1948 with sculptor Jo Davidson Kahn made the first public plan for a Holocaust memorial in the United States 19 The chosen site for this project in Riverside Park later bore other projects for memorials by Percival Goodman and Erich Mendelsohn Although Kahn retired some years earlier the firm of Kahn amp Jacobs lasted until 1973 the year after Kahn s death 20 Kahn s extensive architectural drawings and papers including materials from the firms Buchman amp Kahn and Kahn amp Jacobs are held in the Department of Drawings amp Archives at the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library at Columbia University References editNotes Stern Jewel and Stuart John A Ely Jacques Kahn Architect Beaux arts to Modernism in New York Norton 2006 ISBN 0 393 73114 6 Ferriss Hugh The Metropolis of Tomorrow Princeton Architectural Press 1986 p 166 ISBN 0 910413 11 8 Krasznahorkai Laszlo 2006 War amp War New York New Directions pp 215 18 ISBN 0 8112 1609 8 Bedoire Frederic The Jewish Contribution to Modern Architecture 1830 1930 KTAV Publishing House 2004 pp 436 438 ISBN 0 88125 808 3 Stern Robert A M Gilmartin Patrick Mellins Thomas 1987 New York 1930 Architecture and Urbanism Between the Two World Wars New York Rizzoli pp 551 558 ISBN 978 0 8478 3096 1 OCLC 13860977 Kahn amp Jacobs architectural drawings and records 1893 1965 Columbia University Libraries Retrieved July 27 2020 Emelyn Northway Ely Kahn IV The New York Times August 9 2015 a b 745 Fifth Avenue on The City Review website Koolhaas Rem Delirious New York A Retroactive Manifesto for Manhattan Monacelli Press 1994 p 128 ISBN 1 885254 00 8 Goldberger Paul The Skyscraper Knopf 1981 p 79 ISBN 0 394 50595 6 Mimi Reisel Gladstein The New Ayn Rand Companion Greenwood 1999 p 41 ISBN 0 313 30321 5 Stern 2006 p 179 The Continental Building dead link Banham Reyner Architecture of the Well Tempered Environment University of Chicago Press 1984 p 223 ISBN 0 226 03698 7 This bold work of industrial architecture has not been matched in New York for bald functional and esthetic logic AIA Guide to New York City 1st ed New York Macmillan 1968 p 181 New York Stock Exchange Annex on Emporis Shulman Ken Restoring the Soul Archived July 6 2008 at the Wayback Machine Metropolis October 2000 Kahn Ely Jacques Creating a Modern Synagogue Style No More Copying Commentary June 1947 Young James The Texture of Memory Holocaust Memorials and Meaning Yale University Press 1994 p 290 ISBN 0 300 05991 4 Stern 2006 p 56External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ely Jacques Kahn Ely Jacques Kahn papers 1906 1986 bulk 1906 1972 Held by the Department of Drawings amp Archives Avery Architectural amp Fine Arts Library Columbia University Kahn amp Jacobs architectural drawings and papers circa 1893 1965 bulk circa 1893 1950 held in the Department of Drawings amp Archives Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library Hohenems Genealogy Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ely Jacques Kahn amp oldid 1111020560, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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