Neue Heimat Talks – Rem Koolhaas
"Crisis and Future of Urban Condition in Europe"
Rem Koolhaas, born in 1945 in Dresden's twin city Rotterdam, kicks off the international series of speeches Neue Heimat Talks. He is regarded as one of the most important architects of our time. In addition to his numerous buildings for cities in Europe, North America and Asia (including the CCTV television tower in Beijing), for which he has received all the important architectural prizes, Koolhaas is prominent for his theoretical work on urban development. In a conversation with Michael Schindhelm, the curator of Dresden's bid for the European Capital of Culture 2025, he will talk about the crisis and future of the urban condition in Europe in Dresden's Frauenkirche on 20 June at 8 p.m. Koolhaas, who worked for years for the Council of Wise Men on the Future of Europe, is convinced that the crisis has made Europe stronger and that the demographic problem can only be solved through immigration.
Rem Koolhaas, born in 1945 in Dresden's twin city Rotterdam, founded the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) and is regarded as one of the most important architects of our time. He has designed important buildings for cities in Europe, North America and Asia, including the CCTV television tower in Beijing, the most interesting building of the 21st century according to the New York Times. Koolhaas received all major architectural awards, including the Pritzker Prize in 2000. In addition to his bold designs, Koolhaas is prominent for his theoretical work on urban development. With Delirious New York in 1978, he created a groundbreaking work on the relationship between culture and the city in New York that has achieved cult status and is still regarded today as an essential narrative about the development of the western city in general. Koolhaas has always seen himself as a political person and has also stood up for the European idea. With The Image of Europe in 2001, he created a research platform on the self-perception of the EU, which continues to this day. He advised European citizens: "Be a little more proud!
Michael Schindhelm has been preparing Dresden's application concept for the European Capital of Culture 2025 since March 2018. Born in 1960, the cultural manager, author and filmmaker was general director of the Berlin Opera Foundation, director of the Theater Basel and founding director of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority in 2001. Schindhelm has been an official cultural consultant for public institutions since summer 2009, with the aim of defining Dresden as a laboratory for a new concept of culture.