Rem before Koolhaas

• Presenting early interviews by Rem Koolhaas in translation for the first time alongside original weekly newspaper layouts
• Expanding the field of Koolhaas studies into the 1960s by uncovering his lesser-known journalistic career
• Exploring the role of the interview for architecture as a means of critical inquiry

Rem Before Koolhaas is the first book to uncover Rem Koolhaas’s early journalism with a selection of his writings for the Dutch weekly Haagse Post between 1963 and 1968. It explores how his interviews became essays that exposed power dynamics and cultural shifts. Through first-time English translations and commentary, it reveals Koolhaas as an observer of his time. Featuring original newspaper layouts, this collection highlights the value of journalism and the interview as tools for inquiry and critique. Rather than seeing this period as a precursor to his architectural career, Rem Before Koolhaas presents it as a key body of work that emphasizes the significance of journalistic storytelling for architecture.

Dr. Antonio Cantero is an architect and assistant professor of architecture at TU Delft