Women Architects You Must Know: Zaha Hadid
- Colleen Zhang
- Feb 19, 2024
- 5 min read
Author: Colleen Zhang
The queen of curves and a significant pioneer in the architecture field of the 21st century.
Brief Bio
Zaha Hadid, one of the most famous architects of all time, was Born in 1950. She is a British-Iraqi architect, designer, and artist. She first started her college career in mathematics at the American University in Beirut. After relocating to London in 1972 to attend the Architectural Association, she began working at the Office of Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in 1977.
Architecture Style and Works
Her fascination with Russian avant-garde movements, particularly those of Kazimir Malevich and Vladimir Tatlin, has influenced many of her works. She was liberated from the restrictions and limitations of an architectural drawing by using painting as a design tool drawn from their works.
Zaha Hadid produced pieces that defied conventional notions of what architecture should look like. Her futuristic design was influenced by many modernist paintings, with a strong emphasis on the use of curves, sharp angles, and lines to convey a dynamic feeling akin to that of an action movie.
Her design language also shows a strong element of Islamic calligraphy, inspired by her childhood experiences growing up in Iraq. Through this free calligraphy, she was able to explore ideas of weightlessness and fluidity that later took shape in many of her works with bold curves and flowing arabesque forms.
Hadid's first completed project, the Vitra Fire Station in Weil am Rhein, Germany, exemplifies how she uses unconventional forms in her work. Built-in the early 1990s, the small, two-story structure sprawls tightly and narrowly across the land it occupies. Sharp, angular forms extend into space. The structure feels like a frozen moment in time. Over time, Hadid's forms softened, with sharp edges giving way to curves and rolls.
Zaha Hadid Architects, founded in 2006, operates with a vision to imbue the built environment with the coherence and integrity of nature. The firm is renowned for its innovative approach, consistently pushing the boundaries of conventional architecture through the exploration of new shapes, forms, and materials. Their commitment to groundbreaking design extends beyond architecture, encompassing exhibitions, sets, jewelry, accessories, interiors, and furniture. A notable example of their work in premium lifestyle design is the Le-a Table, a collaboration between Zaha Hadid Design and Leblon Delienne. Central to the firm's philosophy is making incredible architecture accessible worldwide. This commitment drives their focus on material and technological development. Zaha Hadid Architects places a strong emphasis on reducing energy consumption through innovative design, rather than relying on traditional methods like solar panels. This approach is exemplified in their design of a research center in Saudi Arabia, where their team achieved a 40 percent reduction in energy usage compared to conventional buildings. The studio’s work consistently showcases an integration of sustainable practices with architectural creativity, reflecting a dedication to redefining the norms of the architectural world.
Notable Works
Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum
Constructed in 2012, the Broad Museum of Art and its iconic design is made of steel and concrete with a pleated stainless steel and glass exterior. The structural system combines a steel frame, a concrete section, and load-bearing walls. High-quality glass is used for windows, doors, and skylights. 70% of the 46,000 square feet (4,300 m2) is dedicated to exhibition space, including non-traditional spaces such as the Education Wing and the Benefactor and Gallery. The public areas of the building are marked with architectural concrete. MSU Broad consists of three levels: a lower, ground level (Main Level) and a second level that peaks at approximately 38 feet on the west side (Minskoff Gallery) and drops to approximately 24 feet on the east side (Education Wing). Its arrangement is centered on a floating staircase from which galleries branch off. The two-level facilities offer dramatic views of the campus and downtown East Lansing. An outdoor sculpture garden flanks it as an extension of the eastern entrance courtyard and a pedestrian plaza at the western entrance. Other facilities include administrative offices and a gift shop.
Heydar Aliyev Center (Baku Azerbaijan)
Constructed in 2012, the Heydar Aliyev Center spans 57,500 m2 (619,000 sq ft) and integrates a convention center (auditorium), a gallery hall, and a museum. Located near the heart of Baku, it plays a pivotal role in the city's spiritual and cultural life, symbolizing the renewal of Azerbaijan’s capital. The Center's design marks a departure from Azerbaijan's typical Soviet architecture, drawing inspiration from Azeri culture and Islamic architecture. Its undulating forms, reminiscent of Azeri calligraphy and the fluid patterns in Islamic art, convey optimism and progress. This concept of fluidity extends throughout the building, creating a seamless connection between the public plaza and the interior spaces. The structure, conceived by ZHA, is a physical manifestation of landscape topography and nature, intertwining the Center's various functions into a unified surface. This design approach not only links different cultural spaces but also grants each element its distinct identity and privacy. The flowing form of the Center, rising organically from the ground, integrates the external and internal landscapes which blur the lines between architectural elements and their surroundings.
Wangjing Soho (Beijing, China)
Constructed in 2014, Wangjing SOHO, a dynamic mixed-use development, comprises three towers (118, 127, and 200 meters tall) designed to merge architecture with landscape, promoting community unity. The towers, likened by The Telegraph to "dancing Chinese fans" and by others to "curved sails swimming across the Earth," create a vivid interplay of forms reminiscent of intertwined mountains or gigantic pebbles. This design not only captures the essence of the carp, which symbolizes prosperity and happiness in Chinese culture, but also reflects the natural elements and the city's rhythm.
Incorporating sustainable design, Wangjing SOHO features a high-performance glass curtain wall system with dual silver low-E glass, significantly reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling. The development is environmentally conscious, recycling approximately 40% of its water and integrating energy-efficient sensors, monitoring systems, and high-efficiency HVAC components, embodying a synergy of aesthetic appeal and ecological responsibility.
Awards and Recognition
Zaha Hadid was the first woman to win the Pritzker Prize in 2004; her Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre, which resembles an undulating sheet of graph paper, won the Design Museum Design of the Year award in 2014. In addition, she was the first woman to win the RIBA Gold Medal in 2016 and the first laureate of the Stirling Prize, a British decoration for excellence in architecture in 2010.
Industry Excellent Survey and Design Award, Architectural Design First Prize.
2023 ArchDaily Building of the Year Nomination.
Architizer A+ Awards 'Office-Low Rise' Winner.
Johnson Controls 'Blueprint of the Future' award winner.
The Luban Prize 2023 winner (Infinitus Plaza).
Works Cited
Baldwin, Eric. “10 Astonishing Projects by Zaha Hadid Architects.” Architizer, https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/collections/zaha-hadid-architects-new-projects/. Accessed 19 February 2024.
Buder, Sarah. 10 Iconic Zaha Hadid Buildings You Can Actually Visit, 29 June 2023, https://www.afar.com/magazine/zaha-hadids-most-iconic-buildings-around-the-world. Accessed 19 February 2024.
“Masaryčka Building / Zaha Hadid Architects.” ArchDaily, https://www.archdaily.com/office/zaha-hadid-architects. Accessed 19 February 2024.
“Zaha Hadid Architects: 30 Projects That Define Zaha Hadid’s Style - RTF.” Rethinking The Future, https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/top-architects/a295-30-projects-that-define-zaha-hadids-style/. Accessed 19 February 2024.
“Zaha Hadid Architects Built Projects · Divisare.” Divisare, https://divisare.com/aut
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