Rem Koolhaas is one of the most influential architects working today, and his buildings shape how people experience public spaces in major cities around the world. From museums to cultural centers to libraries, his designs combine practical function with bold visual ideas. You can find his work in cities ranging from Beijing to New York, Rotterdam to Doha. This collection shows how contemporary architecture can transform urban spaces and create new places where people gather. The buildings here take many forms. Some are museums like the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul or the Fondazione Prada in Milan. Others serve the public directly, such as the Qatar National Library in Doha or the Seattle Central Library. In Rotterdam alone, there are several of his projects spanning different periods: Kunsthal, De Rotterdam, and Timmerhuis each show different aspects of his approach. What connects these places is a belief that buildings can do more than provide shelter. They should draw people together, spark thought, and alter the feeling of the city around them. Walking through one of these structures, you immediately sense that the design goes beyond what is simply needed to function.
Beijing, China
The CCTV Headquarters in Beijing is the main building for the national television broadcaster, designed with a striking architectural form. The structure takes the shape of a closed loop, creating an unusual presence in the urban landscape. This building combines practical function with experimental design, showing Rem Koolhaas's approach to reimagining modern office spaces through bold geometric forms.
Seattle, United States
Seattle Central Library is a public library featuring a striking glass and steel facade shaped by sharp angles. The building stands out as one of Rem Koolhaas' works, demonstrating how he merges practical function with bold design choices. This library holds a significant place in Seattle's urban landscape, reflecting his vision for shaping contemporary public spaces.
Porto, Portugal
The Casa da Música in Porto is a modern concert hall designed by Rem Koolhaas. The building stands out for its singular geometric form and white glass facade that captures light in striking ways. Inside, concerts and cultural events take place that shape the city's cultural life. The architecture merges practical function with bold design that has transformed Porto's urban landscape.
Rotterdam, Netherlands
The Kunsthal Rotterdam is an art museum designed by Rem Koolhaas with an open and transparent architectural approach. The building combines functionality with bold design to create spaces that put artworks front and center. The exposed structure allows visitors to discover exhibitions in unexpected ways while remaining connected to the surrounding city.
Berlin, Germany
The Netherlands Embassy in Berlin is a modern building that showcases Rem Koolhaas's innovative architecture. The structure combines clean lines with functional design, creating a space where diplomacy and contemporary construction meet. It stands as an example of how Koolhaas reshapes public and cultural spaces.
Paris, France
Villa Dall'Ava is a private home in Paris designed by Rem Koolhaas with staggered levels and inventive use of space. The house shows how the architect approaches modern residential design, combining practical needs with bold spatial planning. The structure brings together private rooms and open areas, creating an environment that shapes how people live in the French capital.
Bordeaux, France
The Maison à Bordeaux showcases Rem Koolhaas' approach to residential architecture with three levels and a central light well. The structure combines open and private spaces in an innovative way, demonstrating how modern design can shape daily life in a private home.
Utrecht, Netherlands
The Educatorium in Utrecht is a teaching and research center with curved and innovative forms. This building demonstrates Koolhaas' ability to combine functionality with bold design. The flowing lines and modern structures create a space that redefines traditional academic settings and shows how architecture can enrich daily life in educational institutions.
Rotterdam, Netherlands
De Rotterdam is a major residential and commercial complex in Rotterdam, featuring three interconnected towers. This building shows Rem Koolhaas' way of reshaping urban spaces through bold and functional design. It brings together housing, offices, and public functions in modern architecture that changes how the city looks and how people use these spaces.
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Timmerhuis is a mixed-use building in Rotterdam that brings together homes, shops, and services. The building's facade adapts to serve the different functions and users inside. This project shows how Koolhaas brings together practical needs with a fresh approach to city architecture.
Taipei, Taiwan
The Taipei Performing Arts Center, designed by Rem Koolhaas, brings together bold architecture with functional spaces. This cultural venue houses three performance halls beneath an innovative design that redefines how people experience the arts. The building demonstrates Koolhaas' approach to creating public spaces that blend contemporary forms with everyday use.
Doha, Qatar
The National Library of Qatar in Doha displays Rem Koolhaas' distinctive approach through its forward-looking architecture and spacious interiors. The building brings together modern functionality and bold design, creating a public space that reshapes the urban landscape. Here, culture, technology, and innovative spatial design meet to establish a new standard for contemporary architecture.
Chicago, United States
The McCormick Tribune Campus Center in Chicago is a university building where an elevated train line passes directly through its interior. This bold architectural choice integrates public transportation with academic space, creating a place where campus life and urban movement exist side by side. The building reflects Koolhaas' approach to breaking down barriers between public and academic environments.
Dallas, United States
The Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in Dallas showcases contemporary theater design through its striking glass exterior. The building allows natural light to pour through its facade while offering views of the surrounding city. Inside, the theater creates flexible spaces for performances and events, reflecting Koolhaas' vision of how people interact within modern cultural environments.
Seoul, South Korea
The Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul demonstrates Rem Koolhaas' approach through three separate buildings that together form a modern art complex. The structures bring together contemporary design with functional spaces for art exhibitions, creating a place where visitors experience modern art in a thoughtfully planned spatial environment. The museum embodies Koolhaas' understanding of how buildings guide the flow of people and support the enjoyment of art.
South Korea
The Seoul National University Museum is a university museum that presents art collections and cultural exhibitions. The building was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and combines modern architecture with functional design. It creates a new space for cultural encounters and reflects Koolhaas' approach to redefining contemporary museum spaces. The museum serves the university and the broader community as a place for viewing art and cultural exchange.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
The nhow Amsterdam RAI is a design hotel in Amsterdam that combines innovative interiors with contemporary elements. This building merges functional design with bold architecture, creating spaces that shape the urban landscape. Rem Koolhaas's design demonstrates his characteristic approach to modern space and the connection between hotel function and artistic vision.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Byzantium is a residential building in Amsterdam with fluid shapes and complex geometric forms. This structure reflects Rem Koolhaas's approach to contemporary architecture, combining functionality with bold design. The building reshapes the city's landscape and creates living spaces that challenge conventional design boundaries.
The Hague, Netherlands
The PAARD in The Hague is a cultural venue and music space designed with distinctive architecture. Built according to Rem Koolhaas's vision, this building merges practical function with bold design choices and reshapes how people experience public cultural spaces. It serves as a gathering place for performances and cultural events in a contemporary setting.
The Hague, Netherlands
The Haagse Tramtunnel in The Hague is an underground railway tunnel that brings together design and urban transportation. This structure shows Koolhaas' ability to transform functional infrastructure into a thoughtfully designed experience. The tunnel improves the city's transportation network while creating a spatially considered passage for commuters and visitors.
London, United Kingdom
New Court in London combines offices and residences in a building that displays contemporary urban design. It embodies Koolhaas' approach of creating functional spaces with bold design to change how people work and live.
New York City, United States
121 East 22nd is a residential building in New York City that embodies Rem Koolhaas' modern architecture. The structure stands out for its elevated design and distinctive forms that reshape the urban landscape. This building reflects Koolhaas' innovative approach, merging functionality with bold design to create a living environment that defines the city's character.
Moscow, Russia
The Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow is a contemporary art museum housed in a building with movable facades. This structure exemplifies Koolhaas' approach to creating flexible spaces that adapt to changing exhibitions. The building merges modern functionality with bold design, shaping the urban landscape and offering visitors new ways to experience art.
Milan, Italy
The Fondazione Prada in Milan is a contemporary art space designed by Rem Koolhaas. This building combines modern functionality with bold design choices, creating an environment where visitors encounter contemporary art exhibitions and cultural events in a structure that reshapes how cultural spaces feel and function.
