REM KOOLHASS 

By-Joshin shagolsemItmu 6sem b-62

REM KOOLHASS Biography-Rem Koolhaas was born in the Netherlands in 1944, to a world still rebuilding from WWII. Koolhaas's parents then moved to Dutch Indonesia shortly after its independence. It was there that Koolhaas was exposed to city redesign as inspired by growth and change. Indonesia was transitioning from a colony with deep roots in Asian tradition to a country that needed cities that catered to its new identity as a global location.After Koolhaas left school, he embarked on careers in journalism and theater that didn't fulfill him. So he enrolled in architecture school instead. In 1968, Koolhaas completed a degree in architecture and embarked on his goal to bring to life post-modern designs that were rooted in nationalism or local culture and needs. Koolhaas developed the Netherland's Dance Theater, which won him notice. He then moved on to develop original designs across the globe, with a preference on competing for public works designs over working with private clients in OMA.

Design Philosophy-Buildings designed according to the principles of “Conscious Inspiration“ or copy paste, are identified by means of three principles:

1. You can easily identify the sources of idea, 2. There is a clear expression of unique planning tools, 3. Stands out, the architect’s invention.

The  “Conscious Inspiration Method‘ ,  How it Works?First step:  the inspiration Source.Second step:   Developing  the Conscious Inspiration tools.Third step:   Realize the design idea.

Influenced-Koolhaas was influenced by post-modernJapanese architectural theory as well as his experience in reconstruction and invention in the Netherlands and Indonesia.Growing up in this period of rebuilding gave Koolhaas the understanding that architecture had to accommodate modern needs. It left an indelible impression on him, and he understood the importance of planning architectureand accommodating architecture to the needs of a global world.

Style-RemKoolhaasis, in fact, so different that scholars have difficulty classifying him. Is he a :1)Deconstructivist2)Modernist3)Structuralist

RemKoolhaashas been called in turns Modernist and Deconstructivist, yet he leans toward Humanism. His work searches for a link between technology and humanity. Koolhaas refused to refer to past styles (he called for an “end to sentimentality”), choosing instead to engage directly with the true gritty character of the modern world. The combination of Koolhaas’s theoretical writings with his fondness for asymmetry, challenging spatial explorations, and unexpected uses of color led many to classify him as a deconstructivist. However, his work, unlike that of other deconstructivists, does not rely heavily on theory, and it is imbued with a strong sense of humanity and a concern for the role that architecture plays in everyday life, particularly in an urban context. This grounding in reality was reflected in Koolhaas’s keen interest in urban planning, most notably in a master plan for a new city center in Lille, France (1985–95), through which he transformed Lille into a business, entertainment, and residential centre. His celebrated Grand Palais, an elliptical structure utilizing plastic and aluminum, was at the centre of this plan.

Design process-Koolhaas’s greatest achievement is therefore not a building or book, but a system that is capable of harvesting, questioning and producing ideas. What Koolhaas has built is a very large version of himself, a system that, through a method of researching and building, is capable of reliably creating beautiful and intelligent ideas on how the world could be.

1. ObservationThe easiest way to uncover new ideas is to be in areas where life is being transformed fast. Koolhaas and his team have been working on a structure that is capable of searching the world for opportunities where change is happening faster than anywhere else, where certain breakthroughs can be made. Some places like the historical centres of European cities have hardly changed through the centuries, whilst others like Beijing.

2. The studio practiceAnother way in which Koolhaas differs from his competitors is in how his studio is run. Koolhaas doesn’t come up with the masterplan that is then refined by his architects. On the contrary, his practice defines itself by an enormous freedom, in materials, in methods and in working hours.

3. ModelsModels play a crucial role at the design process; produced in large quantities, they function as a container for ideas and constrains. Because of their shape they create an immediate impact, there is no need to go through long documents, a model is an entity to makes experiments easy. This way of working also allows to blur the distinction between the research, concept and design phases. In these worlds the information that came from outside slowly grows into a plan that could transform the future.  The playground of ideas is constructed through mixing client demands, the environment, laws and budgets, but also opportunities, ideas, and dreams. In an endless circulation, ideas turn into shapes and shapes into ideas.

CONCEPT-1. Rem Koolhaas devotion to architecture is a way for living a parallel life between the theory and practice of architecture

2.“Origami Envelopes” – Conscious Inspiration

EXAMPLESBuildings in BerlinCheckpoint Charlie Apartments

Rem Koolhaas project was part of the IBA (International Building Exhibition) during 1984. His office, OMA, submitted two competition entries, the Checkpoint Charlie Apartments and a project for sociall housing with mixed use facilities which wasnot built. The Checkpoint Charlie Apartments' construction started before the fall of the Berlin Wall, it included Customs officials and allied forcesIt was completed short after the reunification of Germany, in 1990.It is located near other IBA buildings like Peter Eisenman's Check Point Charlie Museum and Aldo Rossi's Quartier in Shützenstrasse. A special concern for this project, set as objectives by the IBA competition, was the closeness of urban housing to busy roads.  Koolhaas's office reinterpreted these objectives as "different concepts of quality of urban life". The urban life concerns included the ecological impact and the proximityto the border crossing "Checkpoint Charlie".

Dutch Embassy-

Rem Koolhaas was commissioned to create the building in 1997.The design strictly follows the city's urban norms to build close to the perimeter but instead of fil-ling up the whole plot it builds 2 elements: one L shape building reaches the perimeter and a tra-nsparent cube stays isolated in the middle of the plot.With a total area of 8,500m2, the design consists ofoffices, housing and parking. The L shape volume contains 3 apartments and installations, it is cone-cted to the main cube by ramps that function as emergency exits. most of the L shape building is translucent, being able to see the TV tower and other buildings around it through the aluminum membrane.  

The main idea is for the building to show the transparency of the Dutch government, and it is represented with transparent glass facades and floors; the green glass ramp that can be seen projected towards the entrance has 100% see-through glass layers more than 20cm thick.  The activities and functional program are arranged along ramps that go around and through the glass cube.The main materials of the building are: glass (facades and ramps), aluminum (facades and floors), wood (wall panels and floors) and concrete. A black cube emerges from the main cube and hangs free giving view to the river. It houses inside the ambassador's main meeting room. Another interesting concept is the landscape design, with big pebbles and grass mounds that resemble Dutch docks.  

Seattle Public Library

casa da musica-portugal

McCormick Tribune Campus Center-CHICAGO

Seoul National University – Museum of Art

Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art-

CCTV Headquarters, Beijing

Yellow = CanteensDark Blue = StudiosGreen = Open StudiosOrange = Lobbies (Tower & Sky)Pale Green = BroadcastingLight Blue = Sports & RecreationRed = VIP Areas

-Lobbies on Ground & Top Floors-Recreation mainly on bottom-Elevators in both towers-Separate Lobby & Elevator for VIPs-Two Ground Floor Lobbies-Continuous Loop through Towers-Studios mainly on the lower Floors

The Basic Geometry

• Mobius Strip (continuous loop)• Cantilever Overhang• Diagonal Structural Grid System• L-Shaped

Advantages of this System of Diagrid Framing System-

• Structurally very strong• Less material required (~20% reduction in

steel as opposed to typical moment frame method)

• Aesthetically Pleasing – Blends in together with façade

• Floor plan becomes open and free – more internal space

• Most forms can be created with a triangulated form – architectural freedom

• Self-reliant structure, simple in shape• Simple Construction Technique• Skyscraper Structural Failure minimized by diagrid construction• Better ability to redistribute loads than a moment frame

(Failure of one portion does not mean complete structural failure)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. archdaily2. archipedia.com3. greatbuildings.com4. wright house .com5. oma.eu/projects6. study.com7. www.e-architect.co.uk8. www.dezeen.com9. axelspringer.de10.www.artiskunst.com