As part of the European Architects Lecture Series on 20 July, Graham Trickett presented a lecture within ARM’s National Museum on international branded architectural mogul Rem Koolhaas.
I find Koolhaas a fascinating architect in two key ways, firstly as an architect who communicates what certain aspects of the practice of architecture can be and secondly as an architect engaging with contemporary economic realities in the attempt to realise complex architectural programs.
Neither of these aspects were explored during the lecture. Trickett firstly explored the Dutch condition, i.e. urban and man made, and the dutch architectural tradition from De Stijl to MDRDV.
What followed was a survey of Koolhaas’s work including, Exodus, the Villa Savoye influenced house Villa Dall’ava in Paris, Educatorium, Maison A Bordeaux, IIT Ilinois and his new library in Seattle.
Trickett touched on Koolhaas’s graphic style, a prejudicing of aesthetics for program and his influence upon contemporary architectural students, the structure of the company’s that Koolhaas is involved with, the Prada store etc.
The lecture was a good introduction to Koolhaas but I think the lecturer failed to communicate the critical depth of Koolhaas’s architectural practice and its complexity.