A truly avant-garde mind;
Zaha Hadid’s professional career is one of the most fascinating and important in the history of architecture. After dedicating articles to some of the greats in design and architecture like
Mies van der Rohe,
Le Corbusier, and
Miguel Milá, today we are excited to tell you everything you need to know about the great Zaha Hadid and present
some of her most important works.
Are you ready?
Who Was Zaha Hadid?
Zaha Hadid was born in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1950, into a wealthy family, although
she spent most of her life in the United Kingdom. Zaha Hadid is undoubtedly a true
icon of 21st-century architecture, who, despite the injustices of her time, managed to forge a path and achieve excellence in a male-dominated profession. Graduated in mathematics from the American University of Beirut (Lebanon),
she moved to London in 1972 to join the Architectural Association (AA), graduating in 1977 and later teaching there. In the same city,
she opened her own architecture studio in 1979. Early in her career, she gained the reputation of “paper architect,” as many of
her designs never came to life due to their avant-garde and “risky for the time” proposals. Thanks to the exhibition of these extraordinary drawings in “
Deconstructivism in Architecture,” Rolf Fehlbaum discovered Zaha Hadid’s talent and
commissioned her first architectural project: designing the Vitra Fire Station, for the design furniture company he owned.
This project was built in 1994, and ten years later, Zaha Hadid won the Pritzker Prize, known as the Nobel of architecture.
What Is Zaha Hadid’s Deconstructivism?
The deconstructivist movement emerged in the late 1980s and
is characterized by breaking all architectural principles. Here are some of its characteristics:
- No absolute truths
- Use of innovative materials
- Disintegration of spaces
- Irregular and asymmetrical forms
- Great complexity
This non-linear concept expresses the chaos of the modern era, going against the current with impossible designs that stimulate imagination;
a style through which Zaha Hadid became the first female architect to win the Pritzker Prize.
A Bit of History About the Pritzker Prize
The Pritzker Prize recognizes the best in architecture and is awarded annually by the Hyatt Foundation, an initiative created in 1979 by Jay and Cindy Pritzker. Its
purpose is to reward living architects who, through their talent, vision, and commitment,
have contributed positively to humanity through their architectural works. In 2004,
Zaha Hadid received this award and became the first woman to do so. With this recognition, Hadid cemented her position at the top of the architecture world.
Our Favorite Works of Zaha Hadid
The queen of the curve,
inspired by the dunes and rivers of her native Baghdad, is the author of some of the most important and incredible buildings of the 21st century, scattered around the world. Her works are characterized by
fluidity and sublime integration with the environment. From her professional career,
these are our four favorite works. Do you know them?
Bridge Pavilion, Zaragoza, 2008
Among her works in Spain, we highlight
the Bridge Pavilion in Zaragoza. It was built as
the entrance to the 2008 International Exhibition and aims to
represent the continuous movement of a river with its design full of impossible curves, blending with the beautiful surrounding landscape.
Guangzhou Opera House, China, 2010
The
Guangzhou Opera House is located in the city of the same name. It has a 330,000m² surface and is divided into four volumes connected by walkways. Once again, Zaha Hadid gave special importance to integrating her work into the environment, opting for
a design with much movement and fluidity, reminiscent of two pitchers on the Pearl River’s edge.
London Aquatics Center, London, 2012
The
London Aquatics Center was built for the aquatic events of the 2012 London Olympics, accommodating
17,500 spectators. The wavy roof rises from the ground, recalling the movement of water in a pool and is obviously
inspired by the geometry of moving water.
Heydar Aliyev Center, Baku, 2013
The
Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center in Baku, Azerbaijan, was conceived as a museum with conference and exhibition halls and offices. Zaha Hadid’s idea behind this building was to achieve a transformation; she intended it to become
the center of the city’s intellectual and cultural life.
Behind Pictures, Your 3D Rendering Studio in Barcelona
At
Behind Pictures, we are
unconditional fans of deconstructivism and, of course, of
Zaha Hadid, an architect through and through who, despite adversities, became the true queen of this art. And you? Do you also have
avant-garde and radical ideas you would love to see realized in your home? Then don’t hesitate to
contact us and tell us about your project—we’re eager to get started!
We are your 3D rendering studio in Barcelona!
