Elia Zenghelis, OMA co-founder and architect, dies at 89

Greek architect Elia Zenghelis, co-founder of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) and a highly influential architectural educator, died on August 30, 2026, at the age of 89.

Born in Athens in 1937, Zenghelis studied at the Architectural Association (AA) School of Architecture in London, graduating in 1961. He worked at Douglas Stephen and Partners until 1971 while simultaneously beginning his teaching career at the AA in 1963.

Zenghelis was recognized for promoting radical and avant-garde architectural discourse, helping to transform the AA into a center for progressive ideas. His impact on architectural thought extended through decades of teaching across Europe and the United States, shaping multiple generations of professionals.