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Remment Koolhaas: A Pioneering Architect and Theorist

Remment Lucas Koolhaas, born on November 17, 1944, is a renowned Dutch architect, architectural theorist, urbanist, and Professor in Practice of Architecture and Urban Design at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. Often associated with Deconstructivism, he authored the influential book Delirious New York: A Retroactive Manifesto for Manhattan.

Recognition and Achievements

Koolhaas is regarded as a prominent thinker in architecture and urbanism, though opinions on him vary, with some seeing him as a significant figure and others as a self-important iconoclast. He received the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 2000 and was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2008. In 2014, he was elected to the American Philosophical Society.

Early Life and Career

Rem Koolhaas was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, to novelist, critic, and screenwriter Anton Koolhaas and Selinde Pietertje Roosenburg. His maternal grandfather, Dirk Roosenburg, was a modernist architect. The family lived in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Jakarta, and then Amsterdam again. Koolhaas’s father supported Indonesian autonomy and led a cultural program in Jakarta from 1952 to 1955, a formative period for Koolhaas.

In 1969, Koolhaas co-wrote The White Slave, a Dutch film noir, and later wrote an unproduced script for soft-porn director Russ Meyer. He began his career in journalism before studying architecture at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London and later at Cornell University and the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies in New York City.

The Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA)

Koolhaas gained public attention with OMA, the firm he founded in 1975 with Elia Zenghelis, Zoe Zenghelis, and Madelon Vriesendorp in London. Notable early projects include the Venice Biennale of 1980 and several unbuilt proposals like the Parc de la Villette in Paris and a residence for the Prime Minister of Ireland. These projects exemplified the ideas in Delirious New York, written during his time as a visiting scholar at the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies.

Architectural Theory and Publications

Koolhaas's Delirious New York set the tone for his career, analyzing the unpredictable nature of city life. He challenged the modernist notion of "Program," which prioritizes function in architectural design. He introduced concepts like "cross-programming," integrating unexpected functions into spaces, and proposed hospital units in the Seattle Public Library project.

As a professor at Harvard, Koolhaas oversaw the "Project on the City," resulting in publications like Mutations, The Harvard Design School Guide to Shopping, and The Great Leap Forward. These works analyzed "non-cities" and urban phenomena, though critics accused Koolhaas of cynicism towards globalization and capitalism.

Influence on Urban Design and Architecture

Koolhaas’s observations of contemporary cities inform his designs, emphasizing the "culture of congestion." His projects explore the intersection of urbanism and architecture, reflecting modern society's complexities. Notable projects include designs for Prada stores, the Seattle Public Library, and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

In 2005, he co-founded Volume Magazine, which explores broader architectural and social issues. The magazine emphasizes proactive journalism that uncovers potentialities rather than merely reporting on completed projects.

Notable Projects

Koolhaas has worked on numerous significant projects, including the CCTV Headquarters in Beijing, the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, and various cultural and commercial buildings worldwide. His designs often incorporate innovative concepts and challenge conventional architectural norms.

Personal Life

Koolhaas was previously married to artist Madelon Vriesendorp, with whom he has two children. He has been with his current partner, Petra Blaisse, since 1986.

Selected Projects

• Villa dall’Ava (Saint-Cloud, 1991)
• Nexus World Housing (Fukuoka, 1991)
• Kunsthal (Rotterdam, 1992)
• Euralille (Lille, 1994)
• Educatorium (Utrecht, 1995)
• Maison à Bordeaux (Bordeaux, 1998)
• Embassy of the Netherlands (Berlin, 2003)
• McCormick Tribune Campus Center (Chicago, 2003)
• Seoul National University Museum of Art (Seoul, 2005)
• Seattle Central Library (Seattle, 2005)
• Casa da Música (Porto, 2005)
• Dee and Charles Wyly Theater (Dallas, 2009)
• CCTV Headquarters (Beijing, 2012)
• De Rotterdam (Rotterdam, 2013)
• Garage Museum of Contemporary Art (Moscow, 2014)
• Qatar National Library (Doha, 2017)
• Taipei Performing Arts Center (Taipei, 2022)

Koolhaas continues to influence the field of architecture with his innovative designs and theoretical contributions, shaping the future of urban environments.

Selected projects
Villa dall’Ava,[31] (Saint-Cloud, 1991)
Nexus World Housing (Fukuoka, 1991)
Kunsthal (Rotterdam, 1992)
Euralille (Lille, 1994)
Educatorium (Utrecht, 1995)
Maison à Bordeaux (Bordeaux, 1998)[32]
Embassy of the Netherlands (Berlin, 2003)
McCormick Tribune Campus Center (Chicago, 2003)
Seoul National University Museum of Art (Seoul, 2005) 
Seattle Central Library (Seattle, 2005)
Casa da Música (Porto, 2005)
Dee and Charles Wyly Theater (Dallas, 2009)
CCTV Headquarters, (Beijing, 2012)
De Rotterdam (Rotterdam, 2013)
Garage Museum of Contemporary Art (Moscow, 2014)
Qatar National Library (Doha, 2017)
Taipei Performing Arts Center (Taipei, 2022)

Bibliography
Project Japan. Metabolism Talks... (2011) (with Hans Ulrich Obrist)[34] ISBN 978-3-8365-2508-4
Delirious New York: A Retroactive Manifesto for Manhattan (1978)[35] ISBN 978-1-885254-00-9
S,M,L,XL (1995)[36] ISBN 978-1-885254-86-3
Serpentine Gallery: 24 Hour Interview Marathon (2007)[37] ISBN 978-1-904563-69-3
Living Vivre Leben (1998)[38]
Content (2004)[39] ISBN 978-3-8228-3070-3
Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2006; Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König, Köln, Germany 2008 ISBN 978-3-86560-393-7

1. Caves, R. W. (2004). Encyclopedia of the City. Routledge. pp. 411. ISBN 978-0-415-25225-6.
2. ^ Michael Kimmelman, "Why Rem Koolhaas Brought a Tractor to the Guggenheim", The New York Times, 20 February 2020, accessed online.
3. ^ Ouroussoff, Nicolai (September 2012). "Why is Rem Koolhaas the World's Most Controversial Architect?". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 28 June 2016. Koolhaas' habit of shaking up established conventions has made him one of the most influential architects of his generation. A disproportionate number of the profession's rising stars, including Winy Maas of the Dutch firm MVRDV and Bjarke Ingels of the Copenhagen-based BIG, did stints in his office. Architects dig through his books looking for ideas; students all over the world emulate him. The attraction lies, in part, in his ability to keep us off balance. Unlike other architects of his stature, such as Frank Gehry or Zaha Hadid, who have continued to refine their singular aesthetic visions over long careers, Koolhaas works like a conceptual artist—able to draw on a seemingly endless reservoir of ideas.
4. ^ Quirk, Vanessa (17 November 2012). "Rem Koolhaas: A Reluctant Architect". ArchDaily.com. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
5. ^ Kunkel, Patrick (28 July 2015). "Ingrid Böck's 'Six Canonical Projects by Rem Koolhaas' Dissects the Ideas that have Made Koolhaas' Career". ArchDaily.com. Retrieved 28 June 2016.