Rem Koolhaas
Rem Koolhaas ( born November 17, 1944 in Rotterdam) is a Dutch architect and one of the most renowned representatives of pioneering contemporary architecture.
Biography
Koolhaas spent part of his childhood in Indonesia. After his return to the Netherlands he worked in the late 1960s as a journalist at the weekly Haagse Post, which experimented in this politically and culturally very turbulent time with new forms of journalism. He interviewed for the Haagse Post, among others, the artist Constant, who exercised a decisive influence on New Babylon Koolhaas with his utopian architectural project. He was also briefly worked as a scriptwriter.
Between 1968 and 1972, studied architecture Koolhaas at the Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA) in London. He then worked in the U.S. for the German architect Oswald Mathias Ungers at Cornell University in Ithaca, who was a professor there.
Together with Madelon Vriesendorp, Elia and Zoe Zenghelis Zenghelis 1975 he founded the architectural firm Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA ). With the release of several architectural-theoretical writings, conducting readings and participation in commissions OMA since its inception plays an important role in the global architecture discussion.
In December 2007 he was a member of the Council of Elders for the future of Europe. In January 2013 Koolhaas was appointed curator of the 14th Venice Architecture Biennale (7 June to 23 November 2014).
Rem Koolhaas is a professor at Harvard University. He is married to the Dutch artist Madelon Vriesendorp, they have two children.
Work
One of the most influential books from his pen is Delirious New York: A Retroactive Manifesto of Manhattan, which appeared in 1978, and in which he tried to present the implicit philosophy of urban Manhattan. He interpreted in this book Manhattan as a typical example of the city, whose character is manifested especially in the "Culture of Congestion " ( "Culture of consolidation"). Make the density of the city and its confusing internal contradiction in aesthetic, social and cultural terms according to this interpretation of their charm and quality. Many buildings and designs of Koolhaas are influenced by this understanding of the city. A typical feature of his buildings is their collagen-like and labyrinthine design. They combine different aesthetics and functions or collide. Koolhaas it is about the function of the building as " social catalysts", ie by the deliberate and often provocative influence social behavior through architecture.
Not until the early 1980s, the first buildings were realized according to his designs. In the north of Amsterdam, the IJ- plein was born. Koolhaas was responsible for the master plan and the construction of some residential buildings, the community center and the school. Between 1980 and 1987, the venue for the Nederlands Dans Theater originated in The Hague. His other projects in the context of OMA are explained there.
Appeared in 1995 in collaboration with the graphic designer Bruce Mau, the manifesto S, M, L, XL.
"Generic City" and " XL " architecture
In addition to his international architecture projects Rem Koolhaas also has the term " generic city " is introduced together with the term "XL " architecture. What he means, explain the following quotes: " The Generic City is not planned, it just creates so (Generic City is not Planned, it just happens ) - terms such as city, street, identity and architecture are things of the past -. . the past is too small to live in it ( the past is too small to inhabit ). - The Generic City is the culture of our time. " As models of the Generic City Asian cities are often referred to as Kuala Lumpur or cities of the Middle East such as Dubai. - During Rem Koolhaas has become known abroad mainly through his architectural projects, had his views on the "Generic City" and " XL architecture " in the Netherlands a far-reaching influence on both the modern and the historic urban planning.
Rotterdam - XL architecture. Rotterdam, the center of which was destroyed in World War II, shows itself as a modern city with many high-rise buildings, which are surrounded by many large lots with water in the Rhine delta. After Rem Koolhaas had published the book " S, M, L, XL" in 1995, he designed in 1998 for Rotterdam the largest building in the Netherlands with respect to the volume. This as a "vertical city " designated building was completed in 2013 and contains many urban functions in the form of offices, conference rooms, hotels, restaurants, gyms, homes, etc. The building has 44 floors Mega, is 149m high and about as wide. It appears as a large wall plate of three closely linked towers. Today's urban development of Rotterdam is generally experienced as successful.
The Hague - Generic City. In the historic city of The Hague, the principle of generic city in a different way has been to date. Here Koolhaas has realized not that big of a building, but only supplied the theoretical concept for the city center. The Municipality of The Hague has - thanks to the authority of Koolhaas - taken over a much-used quote from him as a program for the city center. The city architect Maarten Schmitt, who worked from 1998-2009 in The Hague, formulated this basic concept as follows: " Rem Koolhaas has described before the construction of the new city hall in The Hague, the Spui district ( downtown ) as a unique area the - is filled with giant building blocks, in a scale as he is still rarely happened in the Netherlands " - as a kind of village. Later, the city architect, wrote: "The part of the publication 'Generic City ' announced ' the end of the historic city ' seems to be perfectly tailored for a city like The Hague. " - In 2012, the proposed Koolhaas concentration of buildings in the historic center of The Hague was executed. - The reactions of the townspeople were different. Compared to other cities such as Amsterdam, Paris, Bern, Munich and Venice, their historic centers are "Generic -City- free" remained, the question of what is preferable that: " Receive the historical city" or " end of the historic city? " - (See biography " The Hague - Maarten Schmitt " and Article traditionalism. )
Star architect Rem Koolhaas in the Netherlands. Based on the book " S, M, L, XL" the last years mega-projects by different architects emerged in the middle of historic cities such as: "Forum" in Groningen, " Stadskantoor " in Utrecht, " Spuiforum " in The Hague, etc. The concept of architecture Koolhaas was supported by the government, including through national awards. - Today, however, shows a certain resistance of the people against the big mega-projects in the historic towns. Among the latest rejections include the fully elaborated megaproject " Artplex " in Utrecht, which was initially rejected in 2014 by the city council. It is noticeable that the criticized mega projects are rarely associated with Rem Koolhaas, despite having been announced in 1995 with the slogan " S, M, L, XL". In newspapers and magazines is often written about as a star architect Koolhaas and his authority seems to be untouchable. - Although he has provided a major contribution to international architecture, the question may be asked whether his "feeling" is enough available for the value of the historic city in Europe. - The latest buzzword of Koolhaas called " Absorbing Modernity ," which he has formulated for the Architecture Biennale 2014 in Venice. This is the confrontation between "Total modernity " and " Historical City " again to-date. Perhaps a solution should be found for the existence of two cultural phenomena.
Architecture Development of the Netherlands in the 21st century. The architect Rem Koolhaas is characterized on a much-visited website ( top010.nl ) as follows: " Rem Koolhaas is without a doubt the most influential and best known internationally Dutch architect of today. " - While the Netherlands have provided significant contributions to several international architectural trends in the 20th century, leads Rem Koolhaas this tradition in the 21st century. His ideas of the "Generic City" and " XL " architecture today comes in many Dutch cities expressed. It is important to mention other and some less well-known people who supported his view of architecture. In addition to many architects, journalists and architecture publicists, especially the above-mentioned officials Maarten Schmitt is to say, who was a follower of Koolhaas ( and Habraken ) long-time president of the architecture department of the national " Council for Culture " ( Raad voor Cultuur ) and his conception of government could convey. Various published government positions are that due to the advice of Schmitt. Since the spring of 2014 also is the former supervisor of Maarten Schmitt - the former city council Marnix Norder of Den Haag - worked as a high government official of participation movement. - Summary it can be said that the development of architecture in the Netherlands in the 21st century - was strongly influenced by Rem Koolhaas as the most famous architect and theorist, John Habraken as a theorist of participation movement, and the officials Maarten Schmitt and Marnix Norder as influential - in terms of progressive positions government adviser.
The Hague, historical city skyline, Government Center ( l), Old Town (r )
The Hague 2012, new city silhouette with " Generic City "
The Hague 2012, new city silhouette with " Generic City "
Awards
( only awards specifically for Rem Koolhaas, for awards under OMA see there)
Publications
- Delirious New York: A retroactive manifesto for Manhattan, German by Fritz Schneider, arch- -Verlag, Aachen 1999 ISBN 3-931435-00-8.
- Archplus, AMO - projections. archplus 175, December 2005
- Archplus - OMA projects. archplus 174, December 2005
- Rem Koolhaas. Hans Ulrich Obrist ( The Conservation Series No. 4). Publisher of Walther König, Cologne 2006, ISBN 3-86560-077-8.
- Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2006: Rem Koolhaas and Cecil Balmond with Arup. König, Köln 2008, ISBN 978-3-86560-393-7.
- With Hans Ulrich Obrist: Project Japan. Taschen, Köln 2011, ISBN 978-3-8365-2508-4.