He’s one of the world’s most celebrated architects, but so far he hasn’t had much built to show for it. Now Rem Koolhaas’s buildings are starting to pop up everywhere and he’s at the forefront of what has become “arguably the most exciting branch of culture.” – New York Times Magazine
Tag: 07.09.00
THE MAN REMAKING LONDON
Architect Norman Foster got his “gherkin” tower approved by the City of London last week. “Foster is a tough cookie; some of his competitors might go as far as to say he is ruthless. None doubts his genius as a designer.” – The Independent (UK)
SOMETHING AFOOTE
“Hollywood may forever think of Foote as the Oscar-winning screenwriter of the original ‘Tender Mercies’ and the adapted ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ but his stature within theatrical circles has soared in his ninth decade.” – Los Angeles Times
FROM PAPER TO THE REAL WORLD
He’s one of the world’s most celebrated architects, but so far he hasn’t had much built to show for it. Now Rem Koolhaas’s buildings are starting to pop up everywhere and he’s at the forefront of what has become “arguably the most exciting branch of culture.” – New York Times Magazine
BEHIND THE BUBBLE
At a cost of $360 million, Beijing’s Grand National Opera House, now under construction, figured to be controversial. Its bubble shape and the fact it wasn’t designed by a Chinese architect makes for a triple whammy. But the real battle here is for the soul of the capital – protests erupt as old Beijing is cleared away to make room for the new. – Washington Post
TOWERING AMBITIONS
“After a quarter of a century in which high-rise architecture was completely off the agenda, we have embarked on an unprecedented bout of skyscraper building. Cities determined to make their mark have decided that a crop of new towers, preferably as exhibitionistic as possible, is the way to get noticed. In urban-renewal projects, a conspicuous high rise is now regarded as one of the most effective ways to make the middle of nowhere feel like somewhere.” – The Observer (UK)
THE MAN REMAKING LONDON
Architect Norman Foster got his “gherkin” tower approved by the City of London last week. “Foster is a tough cookie; some of his competitors might go as far as to say he is ruthless. None doubts his genius as a designer.” – The Independent (UK)
LOOKING BACK AT WHAT?
After years of indifference about its architectural past, Los Angeles is looking backwards. But how to preserve and protect? And what? “In the end, a city should be a repository of memory but not a graveyard for buildings. As Los Angeles grapples with what to preserve and how to preserve it, it must also preserve the openness of spirit that created the great architectural experiment that runs from Gill to Gehry.” – Los Angeles Times
SAME ARCHITECT/DIFFERENT VISION
Twelve years ago David Childs designed a vast new project for New York’s Columbus Circle. But the version he redesigned which is now being built differs substantially. “There is more than one way to interpret this difference: public opinion could be changing; Mr. Childs could be changing his aesthetic; or the difference could mean less than meets the eye.” – New York Times
BEHIND THE BUBBLE
At a cost of $360 million, Beijing’s Grand National Opera House, now under construction, figured to be controversial. Its bubble shape and the fact it wasn’t designed by a Chinese architect makes for a triple whammy. But the real battle here is for the soul of the capital – protests erupt as old Beijing is cleared away to make room for the new. – Washington Post