Farshid Moussavi: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Farshid Moussavi's path runs from Rem Koolhaas's OMA through Foreign Office Architects — the practice she co-founded with Alejandro Zaera-Polo, whose Yokohama terminal rewrote what a continuous surface could do — to a solo practice and a Harvard professorship built on books theorising ornament, form and style. Her map is unusually bookish: Deleuzian philosophy, nineteenth-century theories of pattern, and morphology sit alongside steel and concrete. This mix traces the architect, the theorist and the teacher.

The Kynda mix for Farshid Moussavi

• Key Influence · Delirious New York by Rem Koolhaas (1978). Moussavi worked at Koolhaas's Office for Metropolitan Architecture in Rotterdam in the early 1990s before founding Foreign Office Architects in London in 1993, and the OMA method — architecture argued through diagrams, research and polemical books as much as buildings — is stamped on her own authorial output, from Phylogenesis to The Function of Ornament. Koolhaas's retroactive manifesto is the template for treating writing as a design instrument.
• Influencia Obscura · Der Stil in den technischen und tektonischen Künsten by Gottfried Semper (1860). Semper's nineteenth-century theory that architecture descends from textiles, knots and weaving — that the surface dressing precedes and generates the wall — is the buried intellectual foundation of The Function of Ornament's claim that pattern emerges from processes of fabrication. Little read outside architectural history seminars, Semper is the figure who makes Moussavi's apparently high-tech argument about envelopes and effects legible as a very old one.
• Local Roots · Phaeno Science Centre by Zaha Hadid (2005). Two Iranian-born women running London practices and teaching the same students: Hadid's Wolfsburg science centre, a landscape of cones holding up a floating floor plate, is the closest kin to FOA's warped-surface public buildings. Both emerged from the London school culture around the AA and the Bartlett, where Moussavi studied and later taught, and both had to win major foreign commissions before Britain would build them.
• Beyond the Medium · A Thousand Plateaus by Gilles Deleuze (1980). Deleuze and Guattari's vocabulary — the fold, smooth and striated space, assemblage, affect — is the common language of the 1990s architectural avant-garde Moussavi belongs to, and it underpins her insistence that buildings be judged by the sensations and behaviours they produce rather than by meaning. The Function of Form's project of cataloguing effects rather than symbols is unthinkable without this text's circulation in design schools.
• Peer · Animate Form by Greg Lynn (1999). Lynn was the chief theorist of the blob-and-fold moment that FOA's Yokohama terminal effectively won the argument for, importing animation software and calculus-derived curvature into architectural design. He and Moussavi taught and published in the same circuit of schools and journals through the late 1990s and 2000s, pursuing parallel answers to the question of how continuous geometry could organise real programmes and structures.
• From the Canon · The Function of Ornament by Farshid Moussavi (2006). Edited with Michael Kubo out of her Harvard studios and published by Actar, this is the book that recast Moussavi as a theorist: a visual taxonomy of contemporary envelopes showing how pattern and affect arise from construction techniques rather than applied decoration. It launched the trilogy continued by The Function of Form and The Function of Style, and remains the clearest statement of her conviction that aesthetics is a technical question.
• Key Collaborator · The Sniper's Log: Architectural Chronicles of Generation X by Alejandro Zaera-Polo (2012). Zaera-Polo co-founded Foreign Office Architects with Moussavi in 1993; together they won Yokohama, built the Ravensbourne College and Spanish pavilion work, and dissolved the office in 2011. This collection of his essays, including the influential envelope-politics writing, is the other half of FOA's intellectual output and shows how closely their theoretical preoccupations with surface and public form were entwined.
• Legacy · Subdivided Columns by Michael Hansmeyer (2010). Hansmeyer's computationally subdivided Doric columns, milled in thousands of cardboard layers, are the clearest realisation of the proposition Moussavi's Function of Ornament put into circulation: that ornament is generated by fabrication procedure rather than applied as decoration. His work belongs to the generation of designers for whom her taxonomy of envelopes became a standard reference in schools after 2006.

What influenced Farshid Moussavi

• Gilles Deleuze. The article names Deleuze as an influence on Moussavi's aesthetics. (also via A Thousand Plateaus) “Moussavi defines her methodology in her most recent book, Architecture & Micropolitics (2022) , which engages with Deleuze and Guattari’s theories of assemblages and rhizomatic systems.” (Harvard Graduate School of Design)
• Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Moussavi earned a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. “She trained in architecture at the Dundee School of Architecture, University of Dundee , in Scotland, the Bartlett School of Architecture , University College London and graduated with a Masters in Architecture (MArch II) from the Harvar…” (Wikipedia)
• Félix Guattari. The article names Guattari as an influence on Moussavi's aesthetics. “Moussavi defines her methodology in her most recent book, Architecture & Micropolitics (2022) , which engages with Deleuze and Guattari’s theories of assemblages and rhizomatic systems.” (Harvard Graduate School of Design)
• Jacques Rancière. The article names Rancière as an influence on Moussavi's aesthetics. “He applies the ideas of philosophers such as Félix Guattari & Gilles Deleuze and Jacques Rancière to the field of architecture. You quickly realise that Moussavi is not merely paying lip service to these names, but has truly made their i…” (A+ Architecture in Belgium)
• Spinoza. The article names Spinoza as an influence on Moussavi's aesthetics. “Her work in aesthetics is influenced by a range of philosophers, notably Spinoza , Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari , and Jacques Rancière .” (Wikipedia)
• Bartlett School of Architecture. Moussavi trained at the Bartlett School of Architecture. “She trained in architecture at the Dundee School of Architecture, University of Dundee , in Scotland, the Bartlett School of Architecture , University College London and graduated with a Masters in Architecture (MArch II) from the Harvar…” (Wikipedia)
• A Thousand Plateaus by Gilles Deleuze (1980). A Thousand Plateaus (Gilles Deleuze) — culture for Farshid Moussavi “Her work in aesthetics is influenced by a range of philosophers, notably Spinoza, Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, and Jacques Rancière.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Dundee School of Architecture. Moussavi trained at the Dundee School of Architecture. “She trained in architecture at the Dundee School of Architecture, University of Dundee , in Scotland, the Bartlett School of Architecture , University College London and graduated with a Masters in Architecture (MArch II) from the Harvar…” (Wikipedia)
• Learning from Las Vegas by Robert Venturi (1972). Learning from Las Vegas (Robert Venturi) — titan for Farshid Moussavi (wikidata.org)
• On Growth and Form by D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson (1917). On Growth and Form (D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson) — ghost for Farshid Moussavi (openlibrary.org)
• Sendai Mediatheque by Toyo Ito (2001). Sendai Mediatheque (Toyo Ito) — titan for Farshid Moussavi (wikidata.org)
• A Thousand Years of Nonlinear History by Manuel DeLanda (1997). A Thousand Years of Nonlinear History (Manuel DeLanda) — culture for Farshid Moussavi (openlibrary.org)
• Der Stil in den technischen und tektonischen Künsten by Gottfried Semper (1860). Der Stil in den technischen und tektonischen Künsten (Gottfried Semper) — ghost for Farshid Moussavi (wikidata.org)
• Delirious New York by Rem Koolhaas (1978). Delirious New York (Rem Koolhaas) — titan for Farshid Moussavi (wikidata.org)
• Earth Moves: The Furnishing of Territories by Bernard Cache (1995). Earth Moves: The Furnishing of Territories (Bernard Cache) — culture for Farshid Moussavi

Peers and kindred spirits

• Foreign Office Architects. Moussavi is named as Zaera-Polo’s co-founder. “Moussavi first came to prominence with Foreign Office Architects (FOA), the practice she co-founded in 1993 with Alejandro Zaera-Polo .” (Wikipedia)
• Alejandro Zaera-Polo. Moussavi and Zaera-Polo founded a practice together. (also via The Function of Ornament, Foreign Office Architects, The Sniper's Log: Architectural Chronicles of Generation X) “Moussavi first came to prominence with Foreign Office Architects (FOA), the practice she co-founded in 1993 with Alejandro Zaera-Polo .” (Wikipedia)
• Royal Academy of Arts. Moussavi was elected a Royal Academician. “She was elected a Royal Academician in 2015 and Professor of Architecture at the RA Schools in 2017.” (Farshid Moussavi Architecture)
• Michael Kubo. Moussavi and Kubo are credited together on The Function of Ornament. (also via Imagining the Modern: Architecture and Urbanism of the Pittsburgh Renaissance) “Farshid Moussavi, edited with Michael Kubo, Garrick Ambrose, Ben Fortunato, Ryan R. Ludwig, Ahmadreza Schricker” (Harvard Graduate School of Design)
• Yokohama International Ferry Terminal. Moussavi co-authored the terminal's design. “Previously Moussavi was co-founder of the internationally renowned London-based Foreign Office Architects (FOA) where she co-authored many award-winning international projects including the Yokohama International Cruise Terminal” (Farshid Moussavi Architecture)
• Princeton University. Moussavi was a visiting professor at Princeton University. “she has been a visiting professor at UCLA, Columbia, Princeton, and several architecture schools in Europe” (Harvard Graduate School of Design)
• Daniel Lopez. Moussavi and Lopez are credited together on The Function of Form. “Daniel López-Pérez co-edited The Function of Form (Actar, 2010) with Farshid Moussavi, an essential graphic manual on structural systems and their capacity to produce a variety of forms.” (Transversal Group)
• Garrick Ambrose. Moussavi and Ambrose are credited together on The Function of Form. “Team: Farshid Moussavi with Daniel Lopez-Perez and Garrick Ambrose, Ben Fortunato, Ryan Ludwig, Ahmadreza Schricker.” (Transversal Group)
• Ahmadreza Schricker. Moussavi and Schricker are credited together on The Function of Form. “Team: Farshid Moussavi with Daniel Lopez-Perez and Garrick Ambrose, Ben Fortunato, Ryan Ludwig, Ahmadreza Schricker.” (Transversal Group)
• Farshid Moussavi Architecture. The article identifies Moussavi as the founder of the practice. (also via Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland) “She is the founder of Farshid Moussavi Architecture (FMA) and a professor in Practice of Architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design .” (Wikipedia)
• Columbia University. Moussavi was a visiting professor at Columbia University. “She has been a visiting professor of architecture at the Berlage Institute in Rotterdam, the Hoger Architectuur Instituut Sint-Lucas in Gent, and in the US, at UCLA , Columbia University and Princeton University.” (Wikipedia)
• Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Moussavi was appointed head of the academy. “Previously, Moussavi taught at the Architectural Association in London for eight years (1993–2000), and was subsequently appointed as Head of the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna (2002–2005).” (Wikipedia)
• Berlage Institute. Moussavi was a visiting professor at the Berlage Institute. “She has been a visiting professor of architecture at the Berlage Institute in Rotterdam, the Hoger Architectuur Instituut Sint-Lucas in Gent, and in the US, at UCLA , Columbia University and Princeton University.” (Wikipedia)
• United Architects. Moussavi was part of the United Architects team. “At FOA, Moussavi co-authored the design for the award-winning Yokohama International Ferry Terminal in Japan (which was subject to an international design competition in 1995) and was part of the United Architects team who were finalists…” (Wikipedia)
• Architectural Association School of Architecture. Moussavi taught at the Architectural Association. “Previously, Moussavi taught at the Architectural Association in London for eight years (1993–2000), and was subsequently appointed as Head of the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna (2002–2005).” (Wikipedia)
• Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland by Farshid Moussavi Architecture. Her practice lists the Cleveland museum among its completed projects. “At FMA, Moussavi’s completed projects include the acclaimed Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland, USA; La Folie Divine, a residential complex in Montpellier” (Farshid Moussavi Architecture)
• University of California, Los Angeles. Moussavi was a visiting professor at UCLA. “She has been a visiting professor of architecture at the Berlage Institute in Rotterdam, the Hoger Architectuur Instituut Sint-Lucas in Gent, and in the US, at UCLA , Columbia University and Princeton University.” (Wikipedia)
• Hoger Architectuur Instituut Sint-Lucas. Moussavi was a visiting professor at Sint-Lucas. “She has been a visiting professor of architecture at the Berlage Institute in Rotterdam, the Hoger Architectuur Instituut Sint-Lucas in Gent, and in the US, at UCLA , Columbia University and Princeton University.” (Wikipedia)
• The Sniper's Log: Architectural Chronicles of Generation X by Alejandro Zaera-Polo (2012). The Sniper's Log: Architectural Chronicles of Generation X (Alejandro Zaera-Polo) — collaborator for Farshid Moussavi “== Career == Moussavi first came to prominence with Foreign Office Architects (FOA), the practice she co-founded in 1993 with Alejandro Zaera-Polo.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Animate Form by Greg Lynn (1999). Animate Form (Greg Lynn) — peer for Farshid Moussavi
• Son-O-House by Lars Spuybroek (2004). Son-O-House (Lars Spuybroek) — peer for Farshid Moussavi
• Flux Structure by Mutsuro Sasaki (2005). Flux Structure (Mutsuro Sasaki) — collaborator for Farshid Moussavi
• Atlas of Novel Tectonics by Jesse Reiser (2006). Atlas of Novel Tectonics (Jesse Reiser) — peer for Farshid Moussavi
• Imagining the Modern: Architecture and Urbanism of the Pittsburgh Renaissance by Michael Kubo (2019). Imagining the Modern: Architecture and Urbanism of the Pittsburgh Renaissance (Michael Kubo) — collaborator for Farshid Moussavi
• Phaeno Science Centre by Zaha Hadid (2005). Phaeno Science Centre (Zaha Hadid) — geography for Farshid Moussavi
• Neues Museum, Berlin by David Chipperfield (2009). Neues Museum, Berlin (David Chipperfield) — geography for Farshid Moussavi
• Plug-In City by Peter Cook (1964). Plug-In City (Peter Cook) — geography for Farshid Moussavi

Who Farshid Moussavi influenced

• Subdivided Columns by Michael Hansmeyer (2010). Subdivided Columns (Michael Hansmeyer) — legacy for Farshid Moussavi
• Y/Surf/Struct by Marc Fornes (2017). Y/Surf/Struct (Marc Fornes) — legacy for Farshid Moussavi