A. Eugene Kohn, a founder of the British Architectural Library Trust as well as the highly respected architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox, passed away on Thursday, March 9 at his home in Montecito, California.
Gene was renowned for KPF’s immense success and its contribution to the progression of modern architecture through memorable designs that are landmarks in many cities around the globe. Gene was also instrumental in organizing BALT to support the library and extraordinary collections of the RIBA. However, those around him, including his fellow BALT directors, will remember him most vividly for his exceptional kindness, infectious enthusiasm and boundless curiosity.
The BALT will always strive to uphold his ideals that design matters and responsible development has the power to change lives.
What is BALT?
The British Architectural Library Trust (BALT) is an independent American non-profit organization founded in 2013 in support of the Library and Collections of the Royal Institute of British Architects (the RIBA), the foremost architectural library in the world.
Brilliant collections…
The RIBA Collections bring together over four million objects, in a broad range of media with a shared narrative that describe how buildings, communities and civilizations are designed and constructed. From 15th-century books and drawings, to photographs documenting architecture around the world today, the collections offer global scope and rich historical detail.
Accessible from anywhere…
The Collections are located in London, England, at RIBA headquarters at 66 Portland Place and at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Images are accessible online through RIBApix on the Library website.
Dedicated support…
BALT provides support to the Collections in multiple areas including research, cataloguing, conservation and digitization. BALT’s activities also include programming and cultural activities, exhibitions, educational programs and scholarly exchanges.
