World renowned architect Dame Zaha Mohammad Hadid passed away March 31, 2016, after suffering a heart attack in a Miami hospital where she was being treated for bronchitis. A groundbreaking pioneer in the world of architecture, Hadid’s brilliant talent and provocative designs are on display in high-profile buildings around the world. The 65 year old was born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1950 to an upper class Muslim family. She studied math at the American University in Beirut, Lebanon before moving to London to study at the Architectural Association School of Architecture.
After graduation, Hadid worked for renowned architects Rem Koolhaas and Elia Zengjhelis in the Netherlands, eventually becoming a partner. In 1979, she formed her own firm, Zaha Hadid Architects, in London.
Hadid’s innovative works were known for their broad sweeping shapes and architectural geometry, clearly influenced by her mathematical skills and training. Her buildings and drawings expressed ambiguous emotions, evoking the chaos and flux of modern life. The fluidity, mobility, and even freedom implied in her designs spoke to a worldwide audience – often of a younger generation.
Perhaps of equal impact on the world of architecture, was Hadid’s success at the upper echelons of the predominantly male industry. In the mid 1980’s, Hadid taught at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. In the 1990’s, she chaired the University of Illinois at Chicago’s School of Architecture, and at various times taught at Columbia University and the Yale School of Architecture.
In 2004, Hadid became the first female and the first Muslim to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize, considered the top award in the field. She also received the coveted RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architecture) Stirling Prize in 2010 and 2011. This prestigious award is given to the architect of the building making the greatest contribution to the evolution of architecture.
The Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, Ohio was her first United States work, followed by the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University in East Lansing. Among Hadid’s other well-known buildings are the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Vitra fire station in Weil am Rhein, Germany, Guangzhou Opera House in People’s Republic of China and the London Aquatics Centre, built in 2012 for the London Summer Olympics.
Hadid’s designs have not been without controversy. After winning the competition to design the main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, her firm was ousted from the project just last year. The Tokyo Olympic committee determined the cost ($1.5 billion) and scale were too massive. Some detractors also suggested that the proposed stadium looked like an oversize bicycle helmet.
There are currently two residential condominium developments designed by Hadid underway in the US. The first is in Manhattan, at 520 West 28th Street. The sweeping condos are positioned along the popular High Line, and expected completion is 2017. One Thousand Museum in Miami is considered to be among the most spectacular residential towers ever built in South Florida. This highly anticipated, ultra-luxury building will have just 83 units in its 66 story tower – all with breathtaking views of Biscayne Bay.
Zaha Hadid was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2012. She will be remembered for her genius talent, uncompromising vision, passion, and courage. Hadid’s great friend, Iran Issa-Khan, a well-known South Florida based photographer wrote in a tribute “There are no words to express Zaha Hadid. You left the world. You departed early. Your vision will forever be etched in our minds and hearts. Thank you for the memories, Zaha.”
