Oma Rem Koolhaas Living, Vivre, Leben

Rating:
Summary: XS for Rem this round
Review: All round, this book stands as a small volume analysing Koolhaas's domestic works. This book covers all of Koolhaas's housing projects, from the Patiovilla to the most contemporary built work of Maison a Bordeaux.

One striking thing about this book is the simultaneous comparison and layout of all the five canoical drawings of Architecture for all the projects. That is to say, all the site plan for all the projects are on the same page, as are all the axonometrical drawings and similar sections. This allows one to examine Koolhaas work in a systematic way to conclude on the developement of OMA's work for the last decade in housing projects.

However, this volume wandered off in the direction of more of an exhibition coverage and not so much of a typical Koolhaas's book. Gone is his often satirical remarks, as well as his whitty insights into the design process. The photographs of this volume also leave one with much to desire. The often edggy bluriness of some cover photos may make one compare to those on a typical GA periodical.

All in all, this is definitely one for a Koolhaasian fanatic. If you really wishes to know more about Koolhaas's semantic wonders, look for 'S, M, L, XL' instead.