The Evolution of Architectural Design: Exploring the Concepts of SMLXL and Rem Koolhaas' Extra Quality
Tactile Provocation: Reviewers at Canadian Interiors note that even 30 years later, the book feels "defiant" against today’s "post-digital gloss," serving as a tactile reminder for designers to "think bigger, stranger, bolder". s m l xl rem koolhaaspdf extra quality
: Many university libraries host digital copies for students and researchers. If you have institutional access, check platforms like or your university's specific digital library. Public Archives Internet Archive Public Archives Internet Archive Rem Koolhaas's work, as
Rem Koolhaas's work, as presented in "SMLXL," exhibits several qualities that can be considered "extra": REM You don’t call him Rem unless you
SMLXL is a design framework that Koolhaas introduced as a way to rethink traditional notions of scale and proportion in architecture. The acronym stands for Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large, representing four distinct scales that Koolhaas believes can be used to create more dynamic and engaging urban environments. By embracing this paradigm, architects can move away from the conventional focus on a single, monolithic scale and instead create buildings and spaces that interact and intersect with their surroundings in more complex and interesting ways.
You don’t call him Rem unless you feel like you know him. Rem Koolhaas is the Prada-wearing prophet of chaos. He is the architect who wrote Delirious New York (a love letter to the skyscraper as a pleasure machine) and the man who told us that “Fuck context” is a viable design strategy.