Rem Koolhaas's Dubai Deathstar
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 05.21.07
We show a lot of proposals for buildings in Dubai, often draped in photovoltaics and covered in propellers, or twisting and turning, it is a Disneyland of architecture. Sometimes we think they are going a bit overboard, as they evolve from Disney to Lucas with buildings like OMA's Ras al Khaimah Convention and Exhibition Centre. We have used Picasso's bon mot, updated by Le Corbusier before: "Good architects borrow but great architects steal" but never was the homage so obvious. Architectspeak below the fold.
So far the 21st century – in a desperate effort to differentiate one building from the next – has been characterized by a manic production of extravagant shapes. Paradoxically, the result is a surprisingly monotonous urban substance, where any attempt at ‘difference’ is instantly neutralized in a sea of meaningless architectural gestures.
RAK is confronted with an important choice: Does it join so many others in this mad, futile race or does it become the first to offer a new credibility?
This project represents a final attempt at distinction through architecture:not through the creation of the next bizarre image, but through a return to pure form. ::OMA via my favourite source for wild and crazy architecture, ::Myninjaplease
Note: gravestmor suggests that it is not modelled on the deathstar, but on a Panasonic radio from 1972, five years before the first Star Wars movie, calling it "the little Japanese radio that could."
A good commentary on contemporary architecture, Lloyd, but where's the TreeHugger connection?
Rem Koolhaas is loved by architect critics, but hated by the users of his buildings. Rem loves shapes and theoretical stories but is not so interested in the people who have to use his artisitic excretions. Personally I think Rem should limit himself to building models, and leave real scale building to architects who like the users of their buildings.
Could a visitor rig a hammock in a Koolhaas building and take an afternoon nap?
gaaaaahhhh.
Sure it looks cool, but wait until some darn teenager finds that exhaust vent two meters wide....
OMG... you mean the Deathstar is modelled after a japanese transistor radio?!?
Some guys have waaaaay to much disposable income.
... and instead of police they have imperial troopers !!
;-)
OMA got the job to design the new capital city (BORG structure in the background), the Congress Center and Expo are being designed by the Norwegian firm Snøhetta.
http://www.snoarc.no/default.asp?V_DOC_ID=1261
...more like rem koolhaas's dubai disastar!
Does anyone know Rem's take on the materialist end of this? Does he care that his building will be built on the backs of slaves, or is Architecture an absurdist existential reflection and no longer a projection of value?
Don't think there is much a connection between REM and sustainable architecture. Perhaps the death star will correct that....
Personally, I am a huge fan of the new wave in achitect that is moving away from boxy boring building, and although I'm sure there aren't too many of Rem's designs where function comes ahead of form, he is so creative and talented that I find myself forgeting all about function when considering uses for the spaces he has created. I aplaud his efforts as well, straying from the conventional concept of beauty and creating a whole new image of what should be considered attractive takes guts... and Rem does that time and time again!! I would love to see a virtual tour of some of his buildings, does anyone know where I could find one?