Rem Koolhas

Who Is Rem Koolhaas?

Rem Koolhaas is one of the most influential architects and urban thinkers of recent decades. Founder of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) and its conceptual branch AMO, Koolhaas is known for his critical, analytic approach to contemporary architecture and urbanism. As a professor at Harvard University, he leads the “Project on the City,” a research program focused on shifting urban conditions worldwide. His landmark book, *S,M,L,XL*, offers an in-depth exploration of the relationships between architecture and modern society.

What is his Background?

Since founding OMA in 1975 with Elia and Zoe Zenghelis and Madelon Vriesendorp, Rem Koolhaas has set new standards in contemporary architecture with projects that redefine urban design. Notable works include the Seattle Central Library, the campus center at Illinois Institute of Technology, and the Casa da Música in Porto, which the New York Times recognized as one of the world’s foremost concert halls. Projects such as the CCTV Headquarters in Beijing embody Koolhaas’s exploration of large-scale architecture, focusing on the interaction between space and culture. His work with AMO includes projects for the European Commission and cultural studies in the Middle East. Internationally celebrated, Koolhaas has been honored with the Pritzker Architecture Prize (2000) and the RIBA Gold Medal (2004), establishing him as a pioneer in global architectural thought and innovation.