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Rem Koolhaas: Transforming the Countryside
Sep 2, 2024
Notes from the Lecture by Rem Koolhaas
Introduction
Rem Koolhaas is presenting on the themes related to the countryside and its transformation.
Acknowledges the short notice for the talk and expresses gratitude for attendance.
The discussion aims to last about an hour to allow students to return to their studios.
Context of the Presentation
Recent focus on the countryside due to urban conditions.
Not previously extensively discussed in architecture.
Significant transformation in the countryside due to refugee influx and global changes.
Focus on how the countryside is adapting to new social and economic conditions.
Key Themes Presented
Urban vs. Countryside
More than half of the world's population now lives in urban areas.
The countryside has been largely overlooked in recent architectural discourse.
Koolhaas notes a "repressed" condition of the countryside in modern thinking.
Current Trends in the Countryside
Observations of depopulation and transformation of rural areas:
Farms being converted into homes.
Migration patterns changing rural demographics.
The countryside is not shrinking but changing in composition and density.
Increased automation and technology in agriculture.
The Role of Technology
Agriculture increasingly digitized and technologically advanced, resembling urban systems.
Use of technology such as drones in modern farming.
New agricultural practices being implemented, including hydroponics and artificial environments.
Architectural Implications
Introduction of highly organized and rationalized systems in the countryside.
Emergence of new architectural forms driven by technological advances.
Speculation on how architecture can respond to these changes in the countryside.
Migration and Its Effects
Discussion on the impact of large-scale migration on the countryside, especially in Europe.
Potential for immigrants to inhabit and revitalize depopulated rural areas.
Political and economic discussions surrounding integration of immigrants into rural communities.
Future Considerations
The need for a new architectural imagination to incorporate the realities of the countryside.
The tension between authenticity and artificiality in rural settings.
Exploration of the balance between nostalgia for traditional rural life and the realities of modernization.
Final Thoughts
The interaction between urban and rural spaces is complex and evolving.
Understanding the dynamics of human presence versus automation in these spaces is crucial.
Call for further exploration and discussion on these themes in future studies.
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