Rem Koolhaas vs Bjarke Ingel d. Discourses: from S, M, L, XL to BIG

Abstract

This article focuses on the architects self-presentation through speech. What the architect, wants to show about himself and his/her production. The words chosen, the arguments shown, the discourse developed, all within a coherent narrative.For the purposes of this article, the term discourse is understood as the whole visual, written and spoken performance of the architect to present his/her work and the principles it is based on.This data-driven analysis is based on the premise that every discourse can be analyzed, parametrized and compared to other discourse. This way, an imaginary map can be traced, showing the differences and similitudes in scope, topics treated and discourse impact of two given professionals. The analysis focuses on two iconic architecture figures bridging the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st, such as Rem Koolhaas and Bjarke Ingels. A work frame of discourse analysis is proposed, through 6 topics, treated as territories covered by the speech (politics, economy, ecolog y, sociolog y, technolog y, visuality and poetics).