Rem Koolhaas discusses architecture in the space between city and countryside | SSENSE Japan
Sven Michaelsen visited Rem Koolhaas in his office located within the Prada Foundation building in Milan. Two assistants frequently showed Koolhaas digital images as he spoke, but throughout the two-hour interview, Rem Koolhaas himself rarely even looked up, instead continuing to draw mazes, Roman numerals, and strange combinations of letters on A4 paper with a red ballpoint pen. The following is the conversation that took place under those circumstances. Fondazione Prada, Milan, photo by Bas Princen, image courtesy of Fondazione Prada. Opening image: Rem Koolhaas, photo by Fabrizio Albertini, image courtesy of OMA. Fondazione Prada, Milan, photo by Bas Princen, image courtesy of Fondazione Prada Sven Michaelsen Rem Koolhaas Sven Michaelsen: You are one of the most influential architects of our time. You employ 350 people and have built skyscrapers, bridges, stadiums, libraries, and museums across four continents. What is it essentially like to live a life like that? Rem Koolhaas: I am