5/14/18

Dr. Wilner

Zaha Hadid

Dame Zaha Hadid was born on October 31, 1950, in Baghdad, Iraq. Her interest in architecture started when she visited many ancient Sumerian cities in Southern Iraq with her family during her childhood. A talented architect, she was well known for her radical constructivist designs and her brilliant work as the designer of the London Aquatics Centre and the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan. Zaha was recognized as an architect with uncommon thinking. All of her designs have a meaning behind it and her works are dynamic and organic. She was the first woman and the first muslim to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize, which was in 2004. This award is known as the Nobel Prize of architecture. After completing over nine hundred and fifty projects and designs. Zaha Hadid was an exceptional women who insisted on getting a good education, became her architect and excelled in her profession. Zaha Hadid was a true role model not only to the architecture world, but to the entire world with all of her brilliant accomplishments.

Zaha Hadid grew up in a wealthy family from Baghdad and at a young age knew she would have a professional career. She attended many different Swiss and English schools and graduated from high school highly educated. After high school, Zaha attended the American University in Beirut, Lebanon. She studied architecture for many years and began her own projects. Zaha opened up her first architecture studio in 1980, called “Zaha Hadid Architects” in London, at the age of 30. In 1983, Zaha won first place in her first design competition at the Hong Kong Peak Club. Winning this competition was just the start to Zaha’s amazing career and the impact she had made on the architecture world. 

Zaha Hadid began publishing her work worldwide and started her own major projects.  Her drawings were displayed at the Museum of Modern Art at an exhibit called “Deconstruction in Architecture” in 1988. Many people thought that her designs were too difficult to construct but in 1993, one of her first designs was finally built, the Vitra Fire Station in Weil Rhein, Germany. Architecture took on a new meaning when people finally understood the possibilities associated with architecture. Hadid designed and organized some of the buildings used in the 2012 Olympics and designed upcoming stadiums which will be used in the 2020 Olympics stadiums in Tokyo.  

Hadid grabbed people’s attention from the Middle East to South Korea to China and Singapore. Some of her most famous works include the Guangzhou Opera House in China where it is supposed to resemble two pebbles on the bank of the Pearl River. This theatre is the biggest performing arts center in southern China. In Qatar, the Al Wakrah Stadium, will be the home of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Venue. This futuristic stadium was inspired by the sails of traditional Dhow boats and will hold 40,000 fans. In South Korea the Dongdaemun Design Center resembles a spaceship and in Hong Kong, Hadid’s Jockey Club innovation Tower was built to inspire the development of Hong Kong as a design center in Asia. 

Sadly, on March 31, 2016, Zaha was taken to the hospital suffering from bronchitis. She then passed away on the same day from a heart attack at the age of 65. The world of architecture was in shock. Hadid was described as one of the greatest architects of her time, giving architecture a new identity. Her works leave people in awe when they see them. Known as a legend of her time, she wanted to build buildings to awaken the chaos going on in the world. After she passed away, articles were written about her uniqueness and her often misunderstood vision, which continues to make her an intriguing icon today. 

5/14/18

Dr. Wilner

Heydar Aliyev Center

Zaha Hadid, the world famous architect, designed the Heydar Aliyev Center, which was one of her most successful buildings. The Heydar Aliyev Center was built in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, in 2007. The controversial building, combining an auditorium, a museum and a multi purpose hall, is named after Heydar Aliyev, he was the president of Azerbaijan from 1969 to 1982, after he rose through the ranks of the KGB. He was accused of abusing human rights, hence, this building became a grand design controversy. In addition to this building being associated with an unjust ruler, two hundred and fifty homes had to be destroyed and homeowners were evicted, in order to make room for the center to be constructed. Additionally, migrant laborers from Serbia and Bosnia were forced to work under horrific conditions and were subject to violence. Despite all the controversy, critics paid more attention to the integrity of the architecture and the fact that is was a piece of beautiful work. 

Peter Cook in his review in the  Architectural Review said, upon viewing the "totality, the whiteness... the sheer spectacle" of the building, "you have to throw out those English morals and weedy thoughts about world problems: here is architecture as ultimate statement of theatre." Hadid described the project as an "incredibly ambitious" one and said, "It was always my dream to design and build the theoretical project and that was the closest thing to achieving that." Winning the Design of the Year award by the London Design Museum for this incredible and controversial work of art, made Hadis the first woman to receive this award. The jury who selected her from this competition praised her in as many brilliant ways as possible. 

The budget for this compelling building was never released, but locals use it for it’s auditorium and other cultural amenities. Many argue and question if it was really worth it to construct a building funded by a corrupt government, yet at the same time, disregard the basic needs of its citizens. However, the judges of the competition disregarded that and claimed that this building and piece of architecture should make people talk about it for years to come and should be  the “pinnacle moment” in Zaha Hadid’s portfolio.

Another one of Hadid’s most famous buildings was the London Aquatics Centre that was used for the 2012 summer olympics. The building had two fifty meter pools and 17,500 seats for people. Zaha Hadid was inspired to make this building by the fluid geometry of water in motion. The roof of the building is shaped in a wavy style because under the roof are the pools. The building started to work in 2005 and was completed in 2011 to be used in 2012. Games such as water polo and swimming races can be held inside. Zaha Hadid was a intelligent architect and is known for incredible masterpieces all over the world. 

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Zaha-Hadid:

1968: After studying in Baghdad, Great Britain and Switzerland for work, she went back home to the Middle East to study mathematics at University in Beirut. 

1971: After learning about Architecture, she returned back to Britain to study more into depth about Architecture at the Architectural Association in London. 

1977: Zaha joined her old professors at the Metropolitan Architecture in Netherlands.

1980: After studying for years and starting her own projects, Zaha opens her own Architecture practice called “Zaha Hadid Architects” in London at age 30. 

1983: Going into the Hong Kong Peak Club Design competition, Zaha took first place winning her first design competition and giving her the start of her career.

1993: Zaha completed her first major work in Germany called the Vitra Fire Station. The station was used the same year as it was completed 

1994: She continued to teaching others and had three teaching jobs in the U.S. She was the chair at University of Harvard school of design

2000: Zaha Hadid earned the Honorary fellowship of American Institute of Architects

2002: SIngapore had an international design competition for the ‘One North’ master plan. Zaha thrived to win and won first place

2004: A 52 minute documentary comes out called “A day with Zaha Hadid” showing what her life is about and what she does everyday. Zaha becomes the first muslim and first female to ever win the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Before London was chosen to host the summer Olympics, Zaha had designed the London Aquatics Centre for events to be held in. 

2005: Zaha wins the design competition for the New city casino in Basel, Switzerland

2008: Zaha Hadid is named top 100 most powerful Women 

2010: Zaha gets asked to work on a new building in her hometown Iraq. It was for the Center Bank of Iraq. Zaha wins the RIBA Stirling prize for the first time after making the design of MAXXI Museum. This amazing design of the museum earned Zaha the prize

2011:Zaha wins the RIBA Stirling prize again after designing the Evelyn Grace Academy. She designed a school in London

2012: SHe became the Dame commander of British Empire after all of her amazing accomplishments and achievements she has done around the world

2013: Zaha comes one of the best top dressed over the age of 50  

2014: Zaha started the design for events to be held in the 2022 Olympic games in Qatar

2015: She becomes the first female to become the 2016 recipient of the 'RIBA Royal Gold Medal for Architecture. 

2016: Sadly on March 31, 2016, Zaha went to the hospital for a bronchitis treatment and then passed away on the same day from a heart attack