In this insightful volume, Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, founder of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (O.M.A.), presents a thorough examination and tribute to New York City. He positions the city as a dynamic arena for countless human activities—both factual and imagined—unveiling the metropolitan lifestyle, its "culture of congestion," and architectural developments with exceptional clarity. Koolhaas identifies Manhattan as "the 20th century's Rosetta stone," characterized by architectural evolutions like Central Park and the Skyscraper, visionary projects such as Rockefeller Center and the U.N. Building, and unique phenomena including Radio City Music Hall. Enriched with detailed facts alongside photographs, postcards, maps, watercolors, and drawings, this study powerfully reflects the vibrant and complex energy of the city. This book is essential for serious scholars and admirers of New York.
