this year?s edition of the world architecture festival in amsterdam saw world-renowned dutch architect rem koolhaas give the closing keynote. the festival?s theme was identity and the world?s most influential architects, designers and commentators discussed the issues revolving around it. the lecture, which was in conversation with jeremy melvin ? curator of world architecture festival ? touched subjects like today?s digital age, publications, politics, and his recent projects in the countryside.

 
 
this is the first year WAF was held in amsterdam and paul finch, programme director of world architecture festival commented on the special occasion stating that, ?we?re delighted that rem koolhaas has joined our already stellar list of speakers for this year?s event. this is the first time we?ll be holding WAF in the dutch capital, and just as the dutch masters presided over a golden age of artistic endeavour and expression in the 17th century, rem and his contemporaries have spearheaded architectural innovation that has been exported and embraced around the world.?
screenshot taken from REM movie (read more on designboom here)
 
 
koolhaas was just one of many speakers featured at the event, including jeanne gang (read our interview here) and india mahdavi (read our interview here). during the interview, koolhaas discussed many topics at length and in particular his opinion on the replacement of large sections of society with digital technology, ?I feel that I have be...