OMA/Rem Koolhaas A Critical Reader from ‘Delirious New York’ to ‘S,M,L,XL’

Description

• The most incisive texts on the work of OMA/Rem Koolhaas, with articles that have never before been translated into English
• An overview of relevant notions, ideas, and debates in architectural discourse, theory, and criticism

The activities of Rem Koolhaas and his staff were widely discussed even before the foundation of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture in 1975. Today, many contributions on the work of OMA can be found in the international architectural press, including Koolhaas’ own writings.
The book contains about 150 selected texts—interviews, feature articles, essays, lead articles, reviews, letters, introductions, appraisals, and competition reports that have been compiled for the first time. This compilation not only provides a fresh and critical view of the oeuvre of one the most important contemporary architects, but also represents an account of the debate on architectural and urban design in recent decades.

CONTENTS

• Frontmatter
• OMA / REM KOOLHAAS: A CRITICAL READER FROM DELIRIOUS NEW YORK TO S,M,L,XL
• Contents
• INTRODUCTION: SUSPENDED MEANING
• 1. SPEAR HOUSE (1975): A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT OR A VERY MARVELOUS THING
• 2. THE SPARKLING METROPOLIS & DELIRIOUS NEW YORK (1978): A REPOSITORY OF FORMS AND ACTIVITIES
• 3. FIRST DECADE, FIRST HALF (1978–1985): HOPE HAS RETURNED
• 4. NETHERLANDS DANCE THEATER, THE HAGUE (1982–1987): GOOD-BYE PAPER!
• 5. FIRST DECADE, SECOND HALF (1986–1989): POLEMICS IN THE PROVINCE
• 6. THE FALL OF THE WALL (1989–1996): THE FORCES OF THE WAVE
• 7. VILLA DALL’AVA (1986–1993): A TINY BIT PERVERSE
• 8. KUNSTHAL ROTTERDAM (1989–1993): A MATURITY THAT ONE HAS LONG BEEN WAITING FOR
• 9. “BIGNESS” & EURALILLE (1989–1998): I KNEW I WAS IN TROUBLE BUT I THOUGHT I WAS IN HELL
• 10. S,M,L,XL & “GENERIC CITY” (1994–1998): NO END TO REVISION
• APPENDIX