LOUIS I. KHAN: THE POWER OF ARCHITECTURE Retrospective Travels to Netherlands, Germany & Norway, Now thru Jan 2014

The exhibition 'Louis Kahn -The Power of Architecture' is the first retrospective of the famous American architect in twenty years. Original drawings and sketches, historic and newly constructed models, photographs and films in which contemporary architects shed light on Kahn's pivotal role in the discipline of architecture, will open at the Netherlands Architecture Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands and travel to the Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein, Germany and the National Museum, Oslo, Norway. The presentation will also include a series of extraordinary watercolours recording Kahn's travels through North America, Europe and Egypt.

The Kimbell Art Museum in Texas, the Salk Institute in California and the National Assembly in Bangladesh are among Kahn's most important designs. His buildings, private homes, museums, places of worship and university and government structures are simple, monumental, timeless and uplifting; his designs transcend the bounds of faith and science. Kahn designed a Protestant church, synagogues and a muslim prayer hall. 'Kahn had the gift of bridging the gulf between different worlds. Even the gulf between Christianity, Islam and Judaism', writes Ole Bouman, director of the Netherlands Architecture Institute.

The exhibition was made by the Vitra Design Museum in collaboration with the Netherlands Architecture Institute and the Architectural Archive of the University of Pennsylvania. It is an incredible opportunity for those in the profession to see such a remarkable range of Kahn's original work gathered together – and for a wide-ranging public to become acquainted with the work of this influential architect.

Netherlands Architecture Institute
Museumpark 25, Rotterdam, Netherlands
7 September 2012 - 6 January 2013

Vitra Design Museum
Charles-Eames-Straße 2, Weil am Rhein, Germany
9 March 2013 - 25 August 2013

The National Museum
Universitetsgata 13, Oslo, Norway
October 2013 - January 2014

Pictured: Louis I. Kahn, View of St. Peters, Rome, 1928-29, Watercolor on paper, 8 9/10 x 10 inches. Collection of Sue Ann Kahn, New York.