Vertical Campus

Rem Koolhaas’s concept of Bigness has been a controversial topic in architecture. In the article “Bigness or the Problem of the Large” (1994), he argues that large-scale architecture is a defining characteristic of contemporary society, and buildings should be designed to embrace the reality of human needs. Cities are not disappearing but rather evolving into new forms of urban density. The proposed vertical art school underscores the importance of flexibility and adaptability in responding to the changing demands of the city and the problem of Bigness. By creating a circulation system that is folded up from the city’s streets, pedestrian paths, and train tracks, the building becomes an integral part of the urban fabric rather than an isolated object. This integration of the building emphasizes the need for architecture to respond to the changing demands of the city and the problem of Bigness.