Elia Zenghelis, OMA Cofounder and Educator, Dies at 89
Elia Zenghelis, a well-known Greek architect, passed away on August 30, 2026, at 89 years old, though the specifics of his passing haven't been revealed. He was one of the founders of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in 1975, teaming up with Zoe Zenghelis, Rem Koolhaas, and Madelon Vriesendorp. Zenghelis had a notable teaching career at places like the Architectural Association, Kunstakademie in Düsseldorf, ETH Zurich, Berlage Institute, and Yale, where he continued until 2019. Rem Koolhaas honored him online, praising his "exuberant talent." Born in Athens in 1937, he moved to Johannesburg in 1948, studied at the AA from 1956, and graduated in 1961. His significant projects included the "Egg of Columbus Circle" and the Dutch Parliament extension, and he won the RIBA Annie Spink Award in 2000.
Key facts
- Elia Zenghelis died on August 30, 2026, at age 89.
- Cofounded OMA in 1975 with Zoe Zenghelis, Rem Koolhaas, and Madelon Vriesendorp.
- Taught at AA, Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, ETH Zurich, Berlage Institute, Yale, and more.
- Rem Koolhaas said without Zenghelis's talent, OMA would not exist.
- Born in Athens in 1937, moved to Johannesburg in 1948.
- Graduated from AA in 1961, taught there from 1962.
- Key projects include Dutch Parliament extension and Checkpoint Charlie Apartments.
- Received RIBA Annie Spink Award in 2000.
- Advocated for 'paper architecture' and the architect as a promoter of ideas.
Entities
Artists
- Elia Zenghelis
- Zoe Zenghelis
- Rem Koolhaas
- Madelon Vriesendorp
- Zaha Hadid
- Kenneth Frampton
- Bob Maxwell
- Leon Krier
- Demetri Porphyri
- Herman Hertzberger
- Pier Vittorio Aureli
- Eleni Gigantes
- Laurinda Spear
- Greg Lynn
- John Dennys
- Arthur Korn
- Cynthia Davidson
- Bernard Tschumi
- James Stirling
Institutions
- OMA
- Architectural Association
- Kunstakademie Düsseldorf
- ETH Zurich
- Berlage Institute
- Yale School of Architecture
- Columbia GSAPP
- RIBA
- Douglas Stephen & Partners
- Gigantes Zenghelis Architects
- DOGMA
- Caligari Institute
- Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA)
- Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA)
- Douglas Stephen and Partners
- Harvard Graduate School of Design
- Architectural Association School of Architecture
- Harvard University Graduate School of Design
- Architectural Association (AA)
- Yale University
- EPFL
- Royal Institute of British Architects
- University of Thessaly
Locations
- Athens
- Greece
- Johannesburg
- South Africa
- New York
- United States
- London
- United Kingdom
- Düsseldorf
- Germany
- The Hague
- Netherlands
- Berlin
- Dublin
- Ireland
- Paris
- France
- Amsterdam
- Brussels
- Belgium
- Kumamoto
- Japan
- Europe