Although the museum was established in the 1960s, it never established its true identity until its building, designed by Louis Kahn, was opened in 1972.

ECONOMIST: Museum architecture

But the most persuasive argument for the lasting power of strong architecture is the Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island, designed 40 years ago by Louis Kahn.

WSJ: Zaha Hadid, Farshid Moussavi, Louis Kahn and the Best of 2012 in Architecture

The Vitra exhibition starts with a detailed biographical display and regular showings of previously unseen film footage shot by Nathaniel Kahn, Louis's son and the director of "My Architect, " the movie about his father.

WSJ: Ancient Modernism | 'Louis Kahn: The Power of Architecture' | Vitra Design Museum, Germany | By Colin Amery