Introduction
‘What do you want, brick?’ is the key question posed in the anecdote often shared by Estonian-born American architect Louis Kahn (1901-1974) in academic settings. Over the years, various parts and versions of it have become popular in architectural discourse.
Many of you may have first encountered it in architectural history classes, where it serves both as a lesson and an inspiration for engaging thoughtfully with materials. The dialogue Kahn presents with the brick carries the fundamental teaching that materials have their own natural character and good design reveals it.
The question encourages us to consider the possibilities and limitations of the materials we use in order to ensure that each element is respected and expressed to its full potential.
In this post, we will trace the origins of this important question and reflect on the lasting impression it has left on architecture today. Continue reading.
What do you want, brick?
In masterclass and documentary:
The anecdote is most widely associated with Louis Kahn’s teaching at the University of Pennsylvania in the early 1970s. One recording of him delivering it during a 1971 masterclass at Penn is featured in the 2003 documentary My Architect: A Son’s Journey, which is directed by his son Nathaniel Kahn.
Kahn’s words in that recording are as follows:
“To express is to drive.
And when you want to give something presence, you have to consult nature.
And there is where design comes in.
If you think of brick, for instance, you say to brick, ‘What do you want, brick?’
And brick says to you, ‘I’d like an arch.’
And if you say to brick, ‘Look, arches are expensive, and I can use a concrete lintel over you. What do you think of that, brick?’
Brick says, ‘I’d like an arch.’
And it’s important, you see, that you honour the material which you use. You don’t bandy it around as though you said, ‘Well, we have a lot of material around. We can do it one way; we can do it another.’ It’s not true. You can only do it if you honor the brick and glorify the brick instead of just shortchanging it.”
In Wendy Lesser’s biography:
A version of the same passage is presented in American critic, novelist, and editor, Wendy Lesser’s 2017 biography You Say to Brick: The Life of Louis Kahn:
“You say to brick, ‘What do you want, brick?’
Brick says to you, ‘I like an arch.’
If you say to brick, ‘Arches are expensive, and I can use a concrete lintel over an opening. What do you think of that, brick?’
Brick says: ‘I like an arch.’”
She describes Kahn as an architect who respected the inherent nature of materials while staying true to his own unique character.
Other:
The anecdote has also been condensed to ‘Even a brick wants to be something.’ This paraphrase, while not Kahn’s exact words, is often used in writing or media to convey the essence of his approach to materials.
Historic Context
It is important that you are aware of the contextual information in which any important architectural idea or philosophy originated. This is why we have put together a short timeline of the key architectural styles and movements present during the time when Louis Kahn brought forth his conversation with the brick.
Early 19th Century:
Beaux-Arts (1830s-1930s)
Late 19th Century:
Arts and Crafts Movement (1880-1920)
Art Nouveau (1890s-1910s)
Late 19th Century: Arts and Crafts Movement (1880-1920) 1896 ‘Form Follows Function’ by Louis Sullivan
Early 20th Century:
1901 Louis Kahn is born
Modern Movement
1910 ‘Ornament and Crime’ lecture by Adolf Loos
WW1 (1914-1918)
1920s ‘Less is More’ popularised by Mies van der Rohe
Bauhaus (1919-1933)
Great Depression (1929-1939)
Mid 20th Century:
WW2 (1939-1945)
International Style (1930-1950)
1937 Kahn establishes his own private practice
1950-1951 Kahn becomes a resident architect in Rome
Brutalism (1950s-1970s)
Late 20th Century:
1960s-1970s Kahn’s brick philosophy begins appearing in lectures
1971 Recording of ‘What do you want, Brick?’ masterclass at the University of Pennsylvania
Postmodernism (1980s-1990s)
Critical Regionalism (1980s)
Contemporary architecture
Louis Kahn’s ‘What do you want, brick?’ emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s, at a time when Modernist architecture prioritised industrial efficiency. As Modernism celebrated steel, glass, and reinforced concrete, Kahn sought to explore the expressive and structural qualities of more traditional materials like brick and concrete. His ideas were also shaped by his study of classical architecture.
The quote reflects Kahn’s belief that materials have inherent properties that should guide architectural decisions. Modelling a conversation with a brick, he encouraged architects and students to engage with materials, understand their natural limits, and discover their possibilities, rather than creating random forms.
Through the brick anecdote, Kahn illustrated that materials are active participants in design. He showed that buildings achieve their fullest expression when every element is treated thoughtfully and contributes meaningfully to the overall composition.
So, who was Louis Kahn?
Louis Isadore Kahn (1901-1974) was an Estonian-born American architect celebrated for his monumental yet thoughtful approach to architecture. He had a profound respect for materials and how they could shape the character of a building.
He showed artistic talent from a young age and became interested in architecture after taking up a course during his senior year at Philadelphia Central High School. Kahn later studied about the Beaux-Arts at the University of Pennsylvania School of Fine Arts under Paul Philippe Cret, graduating in 1924.
From 1924-27 he worked as a senior draftsman for the City Architects’ Department and even was the chief of design for the 1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia. A 1928 European tour exposed him to medieval architecture. The walled city of Carcassonne and Scottish castles are known to have greatly influenced his appreciation for timeless forms.
After working for other offices for a while, in the 1930s, Kahn co-founded the Architectural Research Group. Here he focused on social housing projects inspired by European Avant Garde ideas, though these schemes were never built. He collaborated with architects George Howe and Oscar Stonorov on numerous housing projects, formalising a partnership from 1942 to 1947 that produced over fifty designs.
His distinctive architectural style did not emerge until his fifties. Early in his career, he worked in a conventional International Style, but a residency at the American Academy in Rome in 1950-1951 marked a turning point. Inspired by the ancient ruins in Italy, Greece, and Egypt, he developed a ‘back-to-the-basics’ approach that combined modernist influences with timeless architectural principles.
Kahn’s work demonstrates a profound understanding of materials and how they shape space, structure, and the human experience within his buildings. Some of his most famous works include:
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, San Diego, California, United States – 1965
- Phillips Exeter Academy Library, Exeter, New Hampshire, United States – 1972
- National Assembly Building, Dhaka, Bangladesh – 1983
Alongside his practice, Kahn had a long and influential teaching career. He began at Yale University in 1947, later taught at MIT, and then returned to his alma mater the University of Pennsylvania in 1957, where he spent many years shaping the next generation of architects. He also lectured at Princeton University between 1961 and 1967.
What do you want, brick?
In architecture, Louis Kahn’s famous question, ‘What do you want, Brick,’ highlights the importance of understanding the nature of building materials. By personifying the brick, Kahn encouraged architects to consider the material’s desires and to explore the best, most honest way to express its inherent properties. The brick naturally lends itself to forming arches which help showcase both its strength and its beauty.
He saw materials as having both structural logic and expressive capacity, an approach which requires humility and attentiveness. By asking the material what it wants, architects are invited to understand the material’s natural behaviour and apply that knowledge in a way that does it justice. Being aware of the potential and limitations of materials is crucial information that can be useful in all design projects.
Fully exploring a material’s possibilities can also spark creativity and lead to unconventional questions like: could a tile be used structurally? Could a glass bottle or even paper form part of a building? While not every experiment is feasible and key proponents in design like the context, climate, and function must always be considered, challenging assumptions can often lead to innovative solutions.
Kahn’s idea remains relevant today, as architects continue to explore material honesty ensuring that every element contributes meaningfully to the architectural experience.
Kahn’s Influence
Louis Kahn’s influence extends far beyond the iconic buildings he created. At a time when Modernism often championed efficiency through glass and steel, he treated materials as active participants in design and explored the structural and aesthetic potential of brick, concrete, and travertine. He was also meticulous in integrating served and servant spaces, demonstrating how thoughtful construction can enhance both functionality and the character of a building.
His teaching profoundly shaped a generation of architects who carried his ideas forward. Figures like Renzo Piano, Moshe Safdie, Robert Venturi, Jack Diamond, Charles Dagit, and Muzharul Islam who carried his ideas into practice.
Kahn’s ideas also anticipated and shaped architectural movements that followed. His respect for context and material expression aligned closely with the principles of Critical Regionalism. His symbolic, monumental forms resonated with aspects of Postmodernism, while his exploration of atmosphere and presence paved the way for the phenomenological approaches of architects like Peter Zumthor.
His legacy endures today, inspiring architects to balance material honesty in creating buildings that are both expressive and enduring.
You Might Also Be Interested In…
We have a whole series of posts on famous architectural quotes and ideas. Make sure you give them all a read.
Conclusion
In summary, Louis Kahn’s, ‘What do you want, Brick?’ is more than an anecdote, it is a reminder that materials are not simply objects. They have inherent properties and strengths that deserve to be understood and respected. For Kahn, brick was not just a unit of construction but a collaborator, one that naturally sought to express itself through the arch.
His approach challenges us to look beyond convenience or efficiency, and instead to design with care and respect for the elements our buildings are made of.
We hope this post has given you a deeper appreciation of the careful craft that is the selection and use of materials in architecture.
Thank you for reading!
Your Comments
What is your interpretation of ‘What do you want, Brick?’ Do let us know in the comments below.
And feel free to share this post with a friend.
Thank you!
Author
Written by Valanne Fernandes, a Part 2 Architecture graduate. Valanne is a content creator with First In Architecture, spending her time researching, writing and designing inspiring new content for the website.
0 Comments