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My Architect: A Son’s Journey
Nathenial Kahn directed this visually intriguing and surprisingly moving documentary about his father Louis I. Kahn. It chronicles his journey to get to know the man and his works. Kahn, a celebrated architect near bankruptcy, died alone in Penn Station when Nathaniel was 11.
The viewer learns about architecture, the man, and the curious life he led. Only Kahn’s closest associates knew that Kahn had three families, and one child from each alliance. But he was really married to his work.
I highly recommend it on its own merits, not because Kahn seems to be a classic example of a Rational. Perhaps INTP, perhaps INTJ. I lean toward INTP. Interestingly, INTPs are sometimes referred to as architects because of their natural design abilities. They don’t always design buildings.
While I’m tempted to tell the story, I’ll focus on Keirsey’s Temperament and Myers-Briggs’ Type clues.
He came into his own architecturally around age 50. Type developmental theory suggests that we are more fully individuated around that time and more likely to follow our own path.
The Rational temperamant’s core needs are competence, self-determination, and knowledge. They thrive on problem-solving, developing theories and models, and progress. Elegant and efficient solutions are key. Kahn created and promoted his own designs and constantly made improvements even during the building phase much to the consternation of the builders. He quest was timeless perfection. My brother, also an architect, tells me he used moltent stone (concrete).
For Rationals, work is a major life focus. Work is play. Work-life balance seems to become more important later in life. The author’s mother steadfastly believed Kahn was soon to move in with them, who knows, perhaps to focus more on the personal side of life.
Some type clues:
Thinking:
Kahn worked late into the night most night. Lost in his thoughts like an absent minded professor. This seems to indicate introverted thinking (T) preference. He was unaware of time as he refined his models and designs.
When Nathaniel’s mother told him she was pregnant, his reply was, “Not again.” Not exactly a feeling response. One small indicator of Thinking.
Accomodating other’s opinions was not a strong suit either. He debated, argued, confronted, pointed out other’s faults (in public). All more in keeping with someone with a thinking preference. He liked it when subordinates confronted him in return. These don’t sound like the positive side of the thinking preference for critiquing. Perhaps he could have used a little interpersonal skill training!
The results of his extraordinary ability to design complex models (Ti) is evident in his work.
Perceiving:
His long-time assistant learned to be in the office when he had to catch a flight. He would frequently miss flights since he was so absorbed in his work. She’d see that he was physically in the taxi and on his way before she was comfortable enough to go on to other things. He was not aware of time or schedules.
He would call the director’s mother on a moment’s notice to say he was coming to visit. He’d stay a few hours and then return to his wife in the wee hours of the morning. They never knew when he would come or how long he would stay.
iNtuiting:
Kahn laments in an outtake that his father never thought him capable because he wasn’t good at actually building something; not adept at laying bricks, nailing boards, handling equipment. But he could imagine and design on paper incredible complex structures. So he wasn’t good with physical things (Sensing, what is, what you can taste, touch, feel, etc.) but he saw what did not exist (iNtuiting, what could be).
He create structures that would be timeless. His work was at once simple and complex, austere and magnificent, functional and stunningly beautiful. Rational’s temporal focus is on the timeless and the future.
Introversion:
He worked alone or with key individuals necessary to accomplish his lofty aspirations and designs. He was very private about his personal life. As well he should have been!
Apparently he had a lasting impact on all whom he worked with. While he could be difficult and challenging, they admired him tremendously and found him to be brilliant and very loving. I don’t attribute this to type!
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