Salk Institute

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, is an independent, non-profit, scientific research institute. It was founded by Jonas Salk, the inventor of the polio vaccine. Since the 1960's, the institute is located in this complex, consisting of two symmetrical buildings with a stream of water flowing in the middle. The buildings themselves have been designed to promote collaboration, and thus there are no walls separating laboratories on any floor. The Salk Institute is one of the few buildings realized by Louis Kahn. It is still one of the most astonishing buildings on the west coast and since has become part of architectural history. With its set-up it is still astonishingly practicable and up-to-date.