Rem Koolhaas

Rem Koolhaas, born on 17 November 1944 in Rotterdam, is a Dutch architect and one of the most famous representatives of pioneering contemporary architecture. In 1975, with Madelon Vriesedorp, Elia Zenghelis and Zorp Zenghelis he founded the architecture Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA). Since its foundation OMA has played an important role in the worldwide architecture discussion with many architecture theory publications, readings and participation on commissions. One of his most influential books is ''Delirious New York: A Retroactive Manifesto of Manhattan'', which appeared in 1978 and in which OMA attempts to present the urban philosophy of Manhattan. Besides his crystalline buildings he is famous for his "Prada" shops in Beverly Hills and New York, which were not created in cooperation with Herzog & de Meuron. Among his most prominent crystalline buildings are his project for Les Halles, the Casa da Musica in Porto and Seattle Public Library.