Steven Holl’s tribute to Elia Zenghelis
Visionary architect and teacher Elia Zenghelis (89) has passed away in Greece. A founder of OMA, teacher of Rem Koolhaas, Elia was a charismatic force for an original invention of the modern project at a time of postmodernism. I met Elia when he invited me to be on the review of Unit 9 at the Architectural Association in January 1976.
Elia had written the studio assignment as an inversion—instead of giving a site and program and asked to create a form, he gave a form—a Malevich Architecton—and asked the students to make a program and select a site.
One of the students, a heavy-set Iraqi, had just come from Krier’s conservative Unit 8—she sited her hybrid hotel program as a bridge over London Thames. It was a brilliant project but cut with historic arches drawn in pink magic marker. The jury included Peter Cook, Rem, Elia, and others. Rem and I both leaned forward in enthusiasm for this project by Zaha Hadid.
That winter and spring, I have fond memories of joining London cab rides where Zaha demanded that Elia teach her to draw.
Elia’s “Confetti Villas” on the Greek island of Poros was a polychrome inspiration for his wife Zoe Zenghlis’ painting of OMA’s Parc de la Villette competition. Elia left OMA in 1987 but carried on via his enthusiastic teaching—inspiring a generation of students.
I stayed in touch with Elia over the years, inviting him to lecture on his work at ‘T’ Space and inviting him to lunch in Athens. He never lost his idealism… rare in architecture today.
—SH, 09/01/26
Photograph: Elia with daughter Io Holl