Zaha Hadid
Described as a “starchitect”, Dame Zaha Hadid is infamous for her artful and geometric approach to architecture. She has been the creative spirit behind many of the world’s most incredible monuments across the world and has won some of the most prestigious awards in her field, including the UK’s Stirling Prize, which she was awarded two years in a row (2010 and 2011). Three years after the Stirling Prize, she went on to make history, becoming the first and only woman to win the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects. She was also the first woman to win the Pritzker Prize in 2004.
Proclaimed “Queen of the Curve”, October 2018 would have marked the British Iraqi architect’s 68th birthday, and to celebrate her legacy of architectural magnificence, AboutHer.com has highlighted some of her most monumental designs:
The Opus, Dubai
The cuboid shaped building taking form in Dubai is Hadid’s first project in Dubai. The building first opened its doors in January 2017, and is made up of 2 towers that are connected by a four-story ground level atrium and a bridge 71 meters above. The entire structure takes the form of a cube with a void in its center.
The Port House, Antwerp
This incredible modern structure is built around an old fire station. Made up of glass and aluminum, it is the second largest port in Europe.
King Abdullah Financial District Station, Riyadh
Still under construction, this metro station is set to be a four-story structure with six floors, plus another two underground for parking. The design of the interior and roof will appear to emulate undulating waves.
Issam Fares Institute, Beirut
The Issam Fares Institute opened it’s doors alongside a ceremony, in which Dame Zaha Hadid was present in 2014, going on to win the Aga Khan Award for Architecture two years later. This particular project was special for Hadid as she was a former student at the American University of Beirut.
Beethoven Concert Hall, Germany
Built in Bonn, Ludwig Van Beethoven’s birthplace, this structure is one of three halls in the city that takes its name from the infamous composer.
King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, Riyadh
KAPSAR is an independent non-profit institution and another one of Dame Zaha Hadid’s magnificent designs. The structure is made up of five hexagonal, honeycomb shaped buildings which make up a research center, a conference room, library and the Musalla – which is Saudi Arabia’s first ever prayer space to be designed by a woman.
