From the First Skyscraper to the Great Metropolis

The book of the architect Rem Koolhaas «Delirious New York» was first published in 1978 and since that has been several times reprinted and translated into different languages. In Russia it was coming out in 2013 under the title “New York out of itself” in the publishing house Strelka Press. It is needed to mention that the book was translated into Russian language by the employee of Koolhaas office of OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture) - Anastasia Smirnova.

The book deals with the development and birth of the high-rise buildings and skyscrapers culture, about talented and courageous people who were not afraid of experiments and who followed sometimes more, and sometimes less materialistic dreams stopping in front of nothing, it’s about a new attitude to beauty and harmony and, most importantl, it is about the great New York city, which managed to create its own understanding of architecture and culture.

The number of reviews on the «Delirious New York» had already exceeded by the volume the book itself, but it is easy to explain the success. Have you seen a lot of issues that immediately after their publication were becoming the great part of history? Of course not, because such cases can literally be counted on one hand. What about books that are understandable and interesting not only in the professional architectural community, but also almost for any reader not from the field of architecture? That’s really a rare case, because usually publications on architecture, like most part of specialized books have rather complex language and manner of ideas presentation. «Delirious New York»  is a confirmation that professional topics can be written incredibly exciting and interesting, while maintaining the depth of the content. Speaking about the Delirious New York»  we cannot miss a chance to say few words about Rem Koolhaas without whom the book would not be done and who was becoming a significant figure in world of culture almost from the very first steps in his business.

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Text: Elizabeth Klepanova