Rem Koolhaas is the optimistic avant-gardist and bold theoretician of contemporary architecture. In his talks with Hans-Ulrich Obrist he discusses his work in China b amongst others his spectacular and controversial concept for the headquarters of China Central Television in Beijing b and his designs for Prada-shops, where consumption is staged like art. The book allows to look at Koolhaasb role as counsellor for the EU, as well as his views on architecture as metaphor and on the development of urbanism in