Dezeen · Architectuur

OMA co-founder Elia Zenghelis dies aged 89

Greek architect Elia Zenghelis, a co-founder of the international architecture firm OMA, has passed away at the age of 89. Zenghelis, also an influential architectural educator, died on August 30, 2026. Details have not been publicly disclosed.

Zenghelis co-established OMA in 1975 with Rem Koolhaas, Madelon Vriesendorp, and Zoe Zenghelis. Koolhaas stated that OMA would not exist without Zenghelis's "exuberant talent" and that his "generosity" in supporting others' talent was "monumental."

Born in Athens in 1937, Zenghelis graduated from the Architectural Association (AA) in London in 1961. He worked at Douglas Stephen and Partners until 1971 and taught at the AA until 1987, contributing to the school's rulebook and fostering avant-garde discourse.

After leaving Douglas Stephen and Partners, Zenghelis co-founded OMA, leading its London and Athens offices. Early OMA projects influenced by him include the 1978 Dutch Parliament Extension design and the 1982 Parc de la Villette competition entry. He also led the design for the Checkpoint Charlie Apartments in Berlin.

In 1987, Zenghelis left OMA to co-found Gigantes Zenghelis Architects with Eleni Gigantes. His career increasingly focused on architectural education. He succeeded James Stirling as Baukunst Professor at the Kunstakademie in Düsseldorf from 1989 to 2002 and taught at numerous other institutions, receiving the RIBA's Annie Spink Award for Excellence in Education in 2000.

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