Architecture is a hazardous mixture of omnipotence and impotence. It is by definition a c h a o t i c a d v e n t u r e... In other words, the utopian enterprise.
Rem KoolhaasRead
It's a weird city because the uglier the weather, the more beautiful the city. And the uglier the buildings, the more coherent the city.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that a city's beauty can be enhanced by its harsh weather and imperfect architecture.
Rem Koolhaas's quote explores the paradox of urban beauty, proposing that the less appealing aspects of a city's environment, such as rough weather and unappealing buildings, can contribute to an overall sense of coherence and charm. This perspective challenges conventional notions of beauty by emphasizing how imperfections can enrich the character of a city.
Themes
CityBeautyImperfectionArchitectureWeather
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about urban development, one might use this quote to argue for the appreciation of unique cityscapes.
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The acceptance of certain realities doesn't preclude idealism. It can lead to certain breakthroughs.
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Architecture is a dangerous mix of power and importance.
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Japan lives with drastic segregation between the sublime, the ugly, and the utterly without qualities. Dominance of the last 2 categories makes mere presence of the first stunning: when beauty 'happens', it is absolutely surprising.
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We live in an almost perfect stillness and work with incredible urgency.
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