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The sudden passing of Iraqi-British architect Dame Zaha Hadid has saddened the architectural community in which she held significant influence. At 65 years old, her long and distinguished career spanned the world over, earning Hadid several significant accolades on the way to becoming one of the most respected members of her profession. She took home the Pritzker Prize in 2004 — the first woman to do so — and the Royal Institute of British Architects' Gold Medal in 2016. She was also granted one of the United Kingdom’s highest honours in 2012, receiving damehood for her numerous architectural achievements. To remember Hadid’s lasting built legacy and the impact she has left on the urban realm of so many cities, we showcase some of her most notable works.
Hadid’s unconventional design wisdom was displayed to the world when her first major built commission, the Vitra Fire Station in Weil Am Rhein, Germany, was completed in 1993. So began her storied course, racking up achievements from a variety of organizations in the years to come, earning Stirling Prize awards in 2010 and 2011 for the MAXXI Museum in Rome and London’s Evelyn Grace Academy.
Hadid continued to design major culturally significant buildings like the London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Summer Olympics, the Guangzhou Opera House, and the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan. Her international appeal and stardom reflected itself in the standout architecture she created.
Zaha Hadid’s practice took on more larger scale projects as time went on. The 2011-built 147-metre CMA CGM Tower in Marseille has subsequently been topped by even larger projects like Wangjing SOHO, a three-tower mountain-like office and retail complex in Beijing. A number of other developments now under construction seek to dazzle and amaze, including Lo Storto in Milan, a twisting tower that will be capped at 185 metres, and Miami’s One Thousand Museum, Hadid’s first residential skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere.
Her groundbreaking work is being brought to all corners of the world. In particular, Australia has recently proven to be a popular recipient of Hadid's innovative ideas, with several developments awaiting construction. A 54-storey tower at 582-606 Collins Street in Melbourne will be defined by three flowering volumes, a trio of towers would bring striated facades to the Queensland capital of Brisbane, and the Mariner’s Cove Towers in the Gold Coast look to rejuvenate an unlocked part of the city.
Each of these projects capture Hadid's ambitious futuristic approach to design, implementing sweeping curves and dramatic angles that push architectural boundaries and norms. Though Hadid's brilliant mind has been lost, her extensive and creative body of work will continue to inspire, galvanize, and exhilarate the architectural community.
Additional images and information about Hadid's projects can be found in the Database files linked below. Want to join the discussion? Visit the associated Forum threads or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
