About Buildings + Cities 108 — Rem Koolhaas's Delirious New York — 1/3
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Oct 2, 2023 In this podcast, the hosts discuss Rem Koolhaas's book 'Delirious New York' and its exploration of the city's urban condition. They explore the architect's trajectory, the history and fantasy of New York City, and Koolhaas's descriptions of Coney Island. The podcast also touches on the rise and fall of Dreamland, skyscrapers and architectural frauds, the unconventional designs of the Woolworth Building, and the urban environment and skyscrapers. They even discuss an annual ball where architects dress up as skyscrapers.
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Manhattan's Retroactive Manifesto
- Delirious New York acts as a retroactive manifesto explaining the implicit principles behind Manhattan architecture.
- It reveals how skyscraper design emerged not from theoretical intent but from belief and practical coding.
The Grid's Radical Utopia
- The Manhattan grid's indifference to topography represents the triumph of conceptual order over nature.
- It invalidates past urban traditions and invites new architectural freedom, fostering three-dimensional anarchy.
Coney Island as Psychosexual Origin
- Coney Island serves as a psychosexual precursor to Manhattan's complexity.
- Its chaotic energy and technological fantasies embody the city's core delirium.