REX/OMA’s stacked theatre in Dallas’s Arts District

“Dallas,” said architect Rem Koolhaas at a packed lecture for the opening of the city’s new performing arts centre last week, “is the epicentre of the generic.” A ripple of slightly nervous laughter floated around the auditorium of his new theatre. Only Koolhaas can insult the city that has just paid for his new building and make the audience feel privileged to have their city insulted. He can get away with it because he has just conferred on Dallas a magical new theatre and everyone is happy to be sitting in it. To have it here. Of all places.