5 Iconic Rem Koolhaas Projects from

Contents:

• McCormick and Tribune Campus Center
• CCTV Headquarters
• Cultural Center: Qatar National Library
• Axel Springer Media Campus: Center for Learning and Innovation
• Space Design for the Prada Exhibition

Rem Koolhaas was born on November 17, 1944, in Rotterdam. During his youth, his family moved frequently, and they spent time in both Amsterdam and Jakarta, Indonesia, which had a significant influence on his perception of the world and the formation of philosophical views that later manifested themselves in his work.

As a young man, Koolhaas began his career in journalism, working for the Hague weekly Haagse Post. In 1968, he decided to switch to studying architecture, enrolling in the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London. He then continued his education at Cornell University and the Institute of Architecture and Urban Studies in the United States. Thus, architecture took a central place in his professional activity.

In 1975, Rem Koolhaas, together with a group of ambitious architects, founded the architectural firm OMA (The Office for Metropolitan Architecture). This team developed bold and often experimental architectural concepts.

Koolhaas's buildings often have a "broken" form, asymmetry, and fragmentation, but behind these features there is always a clear logic. In his understanding, architecture is intended to reflect the complexity of modernity, and not create a false sense of order.

In addition to his completed projects, Koolhaas also made significant contributions to architectural theory. In 1978, he published a book entitled Delirious New York, which became a manifesto dedicated to the meaning of Manhattan and urban concepts. In 1995, together with Bruce Mau, he published a collection of essays and graphics entitled S, M, L, XL.

Rem Koolhaas's work is often perceived as rebellious, but his professional skills are respected by experts in the field of architecture. In 2000, he won the Pritzker Prize, one of the highest honors in this field. In this article, we will discuss several of his key projects.

McCormick-Tribune Campus Center

2003

In 2003, Rem Koolhaas and his team designed a student center for the Illinois Institute of Technology, located in Chicago.

The building has a unique form - its horizontal body with a spacious roof is created from concrete, steel, glass, and modern composite materials. The interior spaces are characterized by an open plan and rich colors. A distinctive feature of this building is the presence of railway tracks, which the architect framed with a massive sound-insulating tube.

Koolhaas's primary concept was to develop a "city under a roof." The architects from OMA analyzed the routes students took around the campus and integrated these routes into the building's structure, forming diagonal "streets." On both sides of these paths there are cafes, study areas, shops and recreation areas.

CCTV Central Office

2009

This The Beijing building is considered one of the key architectural works of the 21st century and represents the flagship project of Rem Koolhaas and his architectural firm OMA in the Asian region.

The project was initially designed as a closed structure connecting all departments of the television network, including studio areas, office spaces, and technical areas.

Instead of a standard vertical structure, Koolhaas developed a multifaceted three-dimensional form in which two "columns" are connected by a corridor that acts as a crossbar. This is not only a unique and intricate architectural solution, but also a symbol of the endless flow of information, as well as the constant interaction of teams within the company.

Cultural Center: National Library Qatar

2017

Here, instead of the usual division into reading rooms and archive sections, a single space has been created where the entire library collection is accessible. Library visitors can move freely, work, and interact with each other.

The structure is constructed of concrete, aluminum, and glass. Large glass panels allow natural light to penetrate freely, creating a feeling of lightness and transparency in the interior.

The central section houses a unique book collection, a legacy of Qatar. This space is made of white marble and is recessed into the floor, symbolically representing the foundation of national memory.

Axel Springer Media Campus: Center for Learning and Innovations

2020

Rem Koolhaas's most recent achievement is the design of the Axel Springer publishing headquarters in Berlin. He was joined on this project by his OMA colleague, architect Chris van Duijn.

From the outside, this structure appears as a strict glass parallelepiped, harmoniously integrated into the Berlin cityscape. However, behind the reflective glass panels, an entire microcosm is hidden, where the usual office barriers are absent. Instead of isolated offices, it features open terraces and spaces designed for meetings and informal communication. Concrete, wood, and metal are used in the interior decoration.

Design of premises for the Prada exhibition

2021

Koolhaas's collaboration with the Prada brand began back in the nineties years, demonstrating how fashion and architecture can coexist harmoniously. In 2021, he created a unique style for a series of spaces that hosted the men's fall/winter collection.

He designed four rooms that are connected to each other through doorways, each of which has a unique shape: two of them are rectangular, one is round, and the other is hexagonal. Inside each space, you can see original color schemes and finishes made from a variety of textured materials, including marble, faux fur, and even resin.

As the models were shown, they moved through different spaces, and in each new interior, the design style was revealed in its own way.

We have a lot of fascinating information about design in our Telegram channel. Join us!

Read also:

• Zaha Hadid: cutting-edge architecture and concrete structures reminiscent of spaceships
• Industrial design trends for 2025
• OMA architectural bureau transformed an abandoned bakery into a modern cultural center.
• Top projects of summer 2025: editorial choice.