Koolhaas in Favor of Generic Buildings

Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan interprets the Der Speigel interview on The Atlantic Cities:

"Koolhaas believes the generic city is also the freest. Liberated from the codes and rules of the old city center, it's a free zone, a safe haven for the migrant workers who make up (in Amsterdam's case) 40 percent of the city's population. Generic plug-in waterfronts (like the Baltimore Inner Harbor, New York's East River Waterfront and, yes, HafenCity) are the product of a simple equation between developers and city governments."

In the original interview, Koolhaas says:

"It can be wonderful when a building has character, but it can also be an obstacle. It can limit you."