A groundbreaking architecture book by Rem Koolhaas that dissects the essential components of buildings — from windows and staircases to elevators, balconies, façades, and corridors — revealing how architecture constantly evolves through technology, politics, culture, and design innovation.
Developed in collaboration with the Harvard Graduate School of Design, KOOLHAAS. Elements of Architecture is one of the most ambitious and influential contemporary architecture publications ever created. Expanding on the acclaimed 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale exhibition curated by Rem Koolhaas, this monumental 2,600-page work examines architecture at its most fundamental level.
Rather than focusing on iconic buildings alone, the book explores the hidden anatomy of architecture — the everyday elements that shape how we live, move, work, and interact with space.
Inside the book:
– The evolution of architectural elements through history
– Windows, façades, stairs, corridors, balconies, elevators, escalators, fireplaces, toilets, and more
– Architectural design theory and building anatomy
– Urbanism, technology, sustainability, and digital innovation
– Essays, interviews, diagrams, photography, and research
– Architectural evolution influenced by politics, climate, economics, and engineering
– A detailed study of how architecture adapts to modern society
Created with graphic designer Irma Boom, this edition is itself a remarkable object of design and engineering.
Special edition features include:
– Innovative custom split-spine binding
– 2,600-page large-format monograph
– Printed at full original size for maximum readability
– Translucent overlays and layered visual annotations
– Specially selected lightweight Opakal paper
– Experimental book design integrating text, image, and research
Contributors include:
– Rem Koolhaas
– Stephan Trüby
– James Westcott
– Stephan Petermann
– Interviews with Werner Sobek and Tony Fadell (Nest)
– Exclusive photography by Wolfgang Tillmans
This book functions as both a reference archive and an intellectual toolkit for understanding contemporary architecture, design systems, and the future of the built environment.
Perfect for:
– Architects and interior designers
– Architecture students and universities
– Urban planners and design researchers
– Collectors of architecture books
– Creative studios and libraries
– Readers interested in architectural theory and design systems
Author: Rem Koolhaas
Founder of OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture), Pritzker Prize laureate, and one of the most influential architects and architectural thinkers of the modern era.
Designer: Irma Boom
Internationally acclaimed graphic designer known for revolutionary book design and collaborations with OMA, Fondazione Prada, Chanel, and the Rijksmuseum.
Photographer: Wolfgang Tillmans
Turner Prize-winning artist and photographer recognized for his influential contemporary visual work exhibited worldwide.
Hardcover, 20 x 25.5 cm, 3.55 kg, 2528 pages
