Sum of Parts

“Architecture is a profession trained to put things together, not to take them apart,” writes Rem Koolhaas, Hon. FAIA, in his new Elements of Architecture (Taschen, 2018). In the 2,528-page volume published in October, Koolhaas distills the design of buildings into pieces of the whole: the floor, wall, ceiling, roof, door, window, and fireplace, among others. The book builds on Koolhaas’ earlier publication and exhibition for the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale, which originated in a Harvard Graduate School of Design research studio. Featuring a bold palette and layout by designer Irma Boom, Elements of Architecture includes essays by and interviews with Koolhaas, architect Manfredo di Robilant, and architect Werner Sobek, among others.