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Rem Koolhaas Professor in Practice Department of Architecture |
Projects 2007
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Almaty Science Campus, Kazakhstan, 2007 The ‘Naukograd’ technopolis will be home to a new campus for the Kazakh British Technical University, a new engineering headquarters for KING, a residential community, and a public zone with shops and entertainment serving these facilities and attracting visitors. Located in an area of exceptional natural beauty, its isolated location presents the challenge of creating a masterplan that both takes advantage of its scenic surroundings and at the same time is able to overcome its remoteness.
Introduction One of architecture (and urbanism’s) most controversial responsibilities is that of ‘shaping the community’. Fifty years ago the architectural profession embarked on a mission to deliver instantly the social and cultural environment that our cities had only been able to create over centuries. The outcome of this mission at best has left architecture vulnerable: a few fragile prototypes in the face of a largely impoverished built environment. One of these prototypes is the university campus. Whilst it has proven difficult to bring life new urban developments, somehow — maybe because of their limited size — in newly constructed university campuses this ambition still seems tenable. The environment of scientific experiment has proven the perfect breeding ground for architectural experiment. The campus can be viewed as an opportunity for the translation of patterns of human interaction into physical reality: a mini settlement, with its own cultural and social life. In the campus, architecture’s most controversial responsibility can still be seriously entertained. Talgar
Located in a green field – more than an hour’s drive from the nearest city – the Naukograd Technopolis will have to create an urban life almost from scratch. If generally, the purpose of the campus is to set itself apart from the city, the main obligation of the Naukograd Technopolis is to be the city, recreating on its grounds all the city’s ingredients. Located in a beautiful scenic environment, the Naukograd Technopolis has the potential to be both a microcosm of the city and an idyll the same time, coupling the provisions of the city to the presence of landscape — a contemporary arcadia, rural and urban at the same time. Generally this double ambition tends to result in compromise: low density urban settlement patterns of objects in the landscape, condemning various departments to be stand-alone entities. The in between landscape is appropriated to be a gentle pedestrian network. Strangely enough this approach compromises both the landscape and the urban qualities of the campus. The Naukograd Technopolis cannot afford fall into this trap: it has to be both urban and scenic, avoiding the compromise at all times. Instead of confining each program to its own individual building, the campus is based on a system that promotes maximum interaction and allows infinite flexibility.
An internal circulation system, suspended in the air, allows for a maximum of interaction and synergy between the disciplines and departments, while at the same time alleviating the landscape from circulation and program on the ground floor, allowing the landscape to flow freely. In summertime the green fields underneath and between the buildings act as the carriers of campus life. During the harsh months of the Kazakh winter the buildings themselves contain the activity — appearing to have landed from outer-space, their inhabitants yet hesitant to descend to earth… The overall program for the masterplan can be divided into four main categories — residential, academic, public, and work. While independent, there is a certain level of overlap between the different categories, as dormitories slip between residential and academic, the public area serves the other three. Taking into account the individual characteristics of each program and the specific relationships between them, the program has been arranged in three different organizations on the site – bars, loops, and block. Each of these organizations represents a possible solution that accommodates the relational needs of the program while responding to the specificities of the site and topography. As a strategy to translate the elements of the program into architecture form, while still allowing for flexibility and a myriad of design possibilities, a spectrum of forms that coordinates with the range of programs has been used. Employing a single dimensional unit derived from the program components, this Escher-like spectrum incorporates a range from envelopes to modules in a unified whole creating coherency in the overall design. It achieves this by defining a specific architectural form for some programs while allowing for difference and flexibility in others. The specificity of the module is offset by the inherent flexibility of the envelopes. Aggregated together, the modular system creates an elevated horizontal city for the university creating a counterpoint between the rationality of its organization and the flowing natural topography of the site. Beneath, the natural topography of the terrain is maintained, while above roof terraces on the horizontal bars provide a secondary artificial landscape joining the discrete bars together and allowing for an ease of horizontal communication with in the system. Classrooms, laboratories, lecture halls, and informal gathering areas come together within the bars to create an ideal academic setting.
Aprasin Dvor, Russia, St. Petersburg Consisting of multiple freestanding buildings arranged within the market yard, Apraksin Dvor represents a unique urban typology in the historic center of St. Petersburg. The exceptionality of the site that makes it prime for preservation is also the most advantageous aspect for development. What future can be imagined for this area? Is it possible to resist the default treatment of inner city areas: to avoid an uncompromising regime of preservation – no room for maneuvering in the name of authenticity – without surrendering to the forces of commercial exploitation?
The premise of this project requires a negotiation between the desire for historic preservation and drive towards commercial development. In the face of this dilemma, rather than siding either way, we call it a draw and split the difference. In our proposal 50% of the area is demolished and treated as the site for new buildings, 50% of the area is kept in its current state; including its use as flea market. The old and the new are organized as a checkerboard: a co-existence of two uninterrupted conditions, creating both a relationship of maximum contact and maximum independence while avoiding the subjective evaluation of the historic merit of each existing individual building. Where the old retains its utilitarian organization and orthogonal pattern of circulation, the new is organized into a condition of ultimate smoothness. A series of never ending loops lure people in and – once inside - retain them in a constant flow. Stretched across the entire site, the old and the new can either be experienced in extreme juxtaposition or be independent parallel experiences, creating simultaneously an illusion of complete preservation and perpetual newness… Prada Catwalk Woman SS 2008, Milan, Italy, 2007
The catwalk is composed on the form of a cloverleaf. A trajectory convolutes in 3 circular movements. It is demarcated by rows of benches and encircles 3 islands: a sitting mastaba for fashionistas, a rotating screen deconstruction all images projected onto it and a crowd of paparazzi. The wallpaper on the cloverleaf’s wall addresses apocalyptic themes. Standing auditorium is placed on scaffolds outside of the construction sneaking into the world of fashion.
RAK Structure Plan, United Arab Emirates, Ras Al Khaimah, 2007 Ras al Khaimah, The better alternative...
Ras al Khaimah (RAK) is at a crossroads: even with pressures to join the development race in the UAE, the emirate still feels relatively virgin. Not yet ‘developed’ to the level of Dubai or Abu Dhabi, RAK could still avoid the type of rampant global modernism that has hit other parts of the UAE and opt for a more considered approach. With 545km2 of land to be converted into new urban substance and a projected population growth to 600.000 inhabitants in 2025, RAK is at the brink of a quantum leap. It is doubtful whether the main qualities that RAK prides itself on: its natural environment and untainted scenery, will endure once RAK will have reached its ultimate configuration. It is an unresolved paradox that exactly the same features by which RAK hopes to engineer its growth are most at risk from that growth. What RAK needs is a definition of new qualities, ones that will set the emirate apart from the other parts of the region, not by virture of its virgin condition, but by offering a kind of development built on entirely different parameters.
RAK is the fourth of the seven emirates to undergo drastic modernization. With the combined successes/failures of its predecessors as an advanced warning, the planning of RAK could turn into a rare case of foresight - processing knowledge from the experiences of other emirates and incorporating progressive insights. RAK is in the unique position of being able to plan its own success. This study commissioned by Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr al Qassimi is the review by OMA-AMO of the overall Structure Plan for the Ras al Khaimah Urban Area (2004-2025). The study consists of an in-depth analysis and new design for the Structure Plan creating density, a mix of functions, flexibility, and a strategic reserve. Boompjes 70-6, Netherlands, Rotterdam, 2007
The Boompjes, although situated in the city centre, unites in itself the possibility to still have spectacular views and lots of daylight on all floors. At this unique site, near a number of restaurants, the Erasmusbridge and the Willemsbridge, the design takes optimal use of its site potential. Different types of office-use for both small and big tenants characterize this tower both in expression as in use.
At lower levels large floors are offered with a large void and 2 separate entrances. The top with a view rising over neighboring buildings has the nicest orientation towards the south and the Erasmusbridge. The middle part offers on one hand by cantilevering over the sidewalk lively views over the Nieuwe Maas, on the other hand by cantilevering over the Hertekade one of the nicest views in Rotterdam; that of the Oude Haven and the Scheepsmakershaven. The stacked principle offers on 4 levels the opportunity for a roof garden and by giving each top layer an extra ceiling height you will give 4 layers the experience of being on the top floor. High quality materialization and finishing, large entrances spacious parking facilities and a double high floor suitable for a panorama-restaurant on the top level makes this development extraordinary in the Dutch context. Torre Bicentenario, Mexico, Mexico City, 2007
As Mexico approaches the 200th anniversary of its independence, it is emerging as an increasingly important urban center both in Latin America and the world at large. In an architectural age defined by the pursuit of expression at all costs, the Torre Bicentenario is building whose unique form is responsive rather than frivolous. A building whose form facilitates rather than complicates its use. An icon that offers Mexico City and the nation a symbol of the coming bicentennial (the tallest building in Latin America), but also an important new element within the city’s urban life. In 1810, Mexico gained its independence from Spain. 100 years later the Mexican Revolution began Mexico’s political modernity. A century later Mexico and its capital stand at the brink of another quantum leap: a nation at home in a globalized world, in which economic prosperity and a new cultural flourishing promise to transform the nation and its capital.
High Rise
High Rise Axis The site of the Torre Bicentenario lies at the northeast corner of Chapultepec Park, adjacent to the interchange of two major highways. Located at the edge the park, major infrastructure and the city, the project has the potential to benefit all three. Torre Bicentenario will provide much needed class AAA office space for Mexico City, together with public amenities – a sky lobby, convention center, shops and restaurants – for the surrounding communities and visitors to Chapultepec Park.
Icon
Form and Function
Context While two sides stretch in the direction of the park, towards Los Lomas, the building is respectful and sober.
Atrium A pattern of reflective glass panels covering 50% of the interior surface maximizes light penetration. The void twists at its midpoint, opening at the bottom toward the park and at the top toward the city. Rather than exacerbating the skyscraper’s isolation, it connects the building to its surroundings.
Façade Services
2. Climate The average relative humidity during daytime at these months is 60%. Drier conditions occur during the winter months. As indicated by the darker blue squares in the Psychometric Chart below, there is a great percentage of time that outdoor air can be used in lieu of air conditioning for free cooling. As a result, air systems shall be designed with full air side economizers to provide significant energy savings throughout the year.
3. Air and Water
4. Energy and Light
Park
Bridge Almere Masterplan, Netherlands, Almere, 2007
Almere, now over 100.000 inhabitants, has existed less than two decades. In that short time the city has demonstrated enormous potential and vitality. It has shown a commitment to architectural innovation and experimentation. Almere will soon reach the critical mass that will enable it to redefine its ambitions; ten years from today, the population will approach that of an average medium-sized city. Then it will be possible to make the quantum leap from an agglomeration of distinct "equal” centers, each with its own concentration of facilities, to a city with a recognizable hierarchy in the programmatic development. This growth will provide the city center with the basis for a number of essential facilities; such as a cultural nucleus (museum, library, theatre) and large scale retail facilities.
The center of Almere also offers the combination of easy accessibility by car and train, and the availability of building sites, both on the periphery as well as in the center. This means that an new urban office park can be developed in the center with accessibility and visibility equal to a peripheral location. To mark the quantum leap in Almere, OMA decided to concentrate new program for city and business center on only two sites: between the town hall square and the boulevard alongside the Weerwater and between the station and the planned Nelson Mandela Park). This concentration is essential for the unambiguous delineation of Almere’s new status. It will also make it possible to create a new and recognizable form contrasting with the existing, low density elements (specialist retailers, small-scale offices) which make Almere what it is today. The chosen density means to build a 130 000m2 office complex north of the station, taking maximum advantage of its location. The density of the shopping complex means that the boulevard can be freed from the planned commercial program leaving space for cultural and leisure programs. This concentration also offers the opportunity to create a - diagonal - short cut between the two shopping districts. The strip to the east of the center will be preserved from immediate development which offers an attractive location for a new expansion initiative at a later stage. |
