Rem Koolhaas, one of the most significant architects of our time has been appointed Director of Architecture at the Venice Biennale for 2014. Koolhauas, has based his work on intense research and is now a renowned leader in his field.
The Board of Directors of la Biennale di Venezia, chaired by Paolo Baratta, met in the headquarters of Ca’ Giustinian this week and, after thanking and expressing its gratitude to David Chipperfield for the excellent results of the 13th International Architecture Exhibition, appointed Koolhaas Director of the Architecture section, with the specific responsibility of curating the 14th International Architecture Exhibition to be held in 2014.
At the end of the meeting of the Board, President Paolo Baratta stated: “The Architecture Exhibitions of the Biennale have gradually grown in importance internationally. On his part, Rem Koolhaas has stated: “We want to take a fresh look at the fundamental elements of architecture – used by any architect, anywhere, anytime – to see if we can discover something new about architecture.”
Koolhaas’ has built works include the master plan for the Eurolille, a convention centre in Lille; a dance theatre in the Hague, the Kunsthal Museum in Rotterdam, the IIT student center in Chicago, the Dutch embassy in Berlin, the Seattle Public Library; Casa da Musica in Portugal, the Central China Television (CCTV) headquarters in Beijing, Maggie’s Centre in Glasgow and New Court, the new Rothschilds Bank in London. Both of the new UK buildings are on the 2012 RIBA Stirling Prize shortlist.
He has won several international awards including the RIBA Royal Gold Medal, the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2000 and the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 2010 Venice Biennale. A former journalist and screenwriter, Rem Koolhaas was a Harkness fellow with O. M. Ungers at Cornell University. He has taught at the University of California at Los Angeles, Columbia University, and the Architectural Association and has been a visiting design critic and juror at universities worldwide. Koolhaas is a professor at Harvard University where he conducts the Project on the City.
Photo:© ArtLyst 2012