
Coop Himmelblau's exhibition
Architektur ist Jetzt / Architecture is Now
Kunstverein Stuggart, Germany, 1982
© Coop Himmelb(l)au
Coop Himmelb(l)au is an architectural firm founded in Vienna in 1968 by Wolf D. Prix, Helmut Swiczinsky, and Michael Holzer. The name of the firm translates to "Cooperative Sky Blue," with "Himmelblau" referencing a color that symbolizes the sky and the infinite possibilities of design. From the beginning, the group's approach to architecture was unconventional, influenced by the avant-garde movements of the time, such as Pop Art, Minimalism, and Deconstructivism.

Villa Rosa
Pneumatic Living Unit — Prototype, 1968
© Coop Himmelb(l)au
The thinking behind Coop Himmelb(l)au's projects is centered around the idea of challenging conventions and breaking boundaries. They reject the traditional notion of architecture as a static and unchanging entity, instead seeing it as a dynamic, evolving, and interactive form. Their work aims to disrupt preconceived notions of space and to create experiences that are both immersive and thought-provoking.

Opera House Sketch
Malibu, California, 1983
© Coop Himmelb(l)au
The group's use of technology is a key aspect of their design philosophy. They employ advanced digital tools, including computer-aided design and parametric modeling, to achieve the intricate geometries and complex forms that are characteristic of their work. This use of technology allows them to explore new possibilities in design, and to create structures that were previously impossible to conceive.

Cloud three dimensional grid
© Coop Himmelb(l)au
One of the group's early projects, the exhibition installation Architecture Is Now, showcased their approach to architecture. The installation, which was created in 1982 for the Württembergischer Kunstverein in Stuttgart, Germany, featured a series of large-scale models of buildings that challenged traditional notions of form and function. The installation was designed to be interactive, with visitors encouraged to explore the models and engage with the ideas behind them.

Verlag Gerd Hatje, Stuttgart 1983
First published in the USA by Rizzoli International, New York 1983
First published in Great Britain by Thames & Hudson Ltd., London 1984
Foreword: Frank Werner
Texts: Coop Himmelblau
ISBN 0 – 8478-0515 – 8
German/ English

Coop Himmelblau's exhibition
Architektur ist Jetzt / Architecture is Now
Kunstverein Stuggart, Germany, 1982
© Coop Himmelb(l)au
“ Our architecture is not domesticated. It moves around in urban areas like a panther in a jungle. When it is in a museum, it is like a beast of prey in a cage.” – Coop Himmelb(l)au, 1982
Architecture Is Now, 1982
Exhibition Installation, Württembergischer Kunstverein
Stuttgart, Germany
Another significant project by Coop Himmelb(l)au is the Falkestrasse Roof, which was completed in 1988. The project involved the renovation and extension of an existing building in Vienna, with a new roof structure added to create a unique and dynamic form. The roof, which appears to float above the building, is made up of a series of curved and angled steel elements that create a complex and intricate geometry.

Rooftop Remodeling Falkestrasse
Wien, Austria, 1987-88
Rooftop Remodeling Falkestrasse
Design
development
© Coop Himmelb(l)au
“ The rooftop remodeling project in this exhibition... is clearly a form that has been distorted by some alien organism, a writhing, disruptive animal breaking through the corner. Some twisted counter-relief infects the orthogonal box. It is a skeletal monster which breaks up the elements of the form as it struggles out. ” - Mark Wigley, 1988
Rooftop Remodeling Falkestrasse
Wien, Austria, 1987-88
The Open House project, completed in 1998, exemplifies Coop Himmelb(l)au's philosophy of challenging conventional notions of space. The project involved the transformation of an existing warehouse in Vienna into a mixed-use development, featuring apartments, offices, and commercial spaces. The building's facade is covered in a mesh of aluminum panels, which can be adjusted to control the amount of light and privacy in each unit. The interior spaces are designed to be flexible and adaptable, with movable walls and sliding partitions allowing residents to customize their living spaces.

Opera House
Malibu, California, 1983
Design Development
© Coop Himmelb(l)au
“ Created from an explosively drawn design. Drawn with eyes closed. Undistracted concentration, the hand as the seismograph of the feelings, the hand that will awaken the constructed space.” - Coop Himmelb(l)au, 1983.
Opera House
Malibu, California, 1983
The Open House project, completed in 1998, exemplifies Coop Himmelb(l)au's philosophy of challenging conventional notions of space. The project involved the transformation of an existing warehouse in Vienna into a mixed-use development, featuring apartments, offices, and commercial spaces. The building's facade is covered in a mesh of aluminum panels, which can be adjusted to control the amount of light and privacy in each unit. The interior spaces are designed to be flexible and adaptable, with movable walls and sliding partitions allowing residents to customize their living spaces.
Overall, Coop Himmelb(l)au's philosophy is characterized by a rejection of traditional architectural conventions in favor of bold, dynamic designs that interact with their environment and challenge the status quo. Their early works, such as the "Architecture Is Now" exhibition installation and the Falkestrasse Roof, exemplify this philosophy and have made Coop Himmelb(l)au one of the most innovative and influential architecture firms of the 20th century.