In Conversation With Rem Koolhaas

Talking Building Design And Architecture As A Discipline.

- Aidan Imanova

One of the interesting elements about Concrete being OMA’s first completed building in Dubai is the fact that the project is a continuation of the firm’s – and Rem Koolhaas’ – work in the preservation and repurposing of existing buildings. Koolhaas talks about the significance of the building’s opening, OMA’s investment in the region and the changing face of Dubai.

He admitted that although this was not a planned occurrence, it definitely shows a lot of things about Dubai itself.

“Dubai now has a history and there are things you can begin to think about in terms of preservation,” Koolhaas told us. “For the last six years, we have been deliberately looking for opportunities to do preservation projects. It became a very active part of what we do.”

During his public lecture, the day after the building was unveiled, Koolhaas spoke about taking a new approach to saving buildings from the past.

“There was a concern for Dubai and its constant transformation where the danger was and still is, that every part of old Dubai, or authentic Dubai, or poor Dubai, could eventually be replaced by modern architecture, and that would not be good for the full spectrum of experiences the city needs,” he explained. However, he added that although preserving the past is important, it doesn’t have to be applied to everything.