Zaha Hadid : A Planet in her own Orbit

A manifestation of boundless creativity, an unconventional visionary, a fearless trailblazer, a torchbearer of modern architecture, an inspiration to a generation and a woman extraordinary. This is a brief introduction of Dame Zaha Hadid, one of the world’s greatest architects of modern times and considering the astonishing work that she has done, the introduction is just a mere reflection of what she has achieved and the legacy she has built in her unprecedented and remarkable career.

Education

Zaha was born in Baghdad in a well to do family hailing from Mosul. She studied mathematics at the American University of Beirut, before moving to  London in 1972 to pursue her huge interest in Architecture. She was enrolled at the Architectural Association School of Architecture. Her unconformist  creative streak  towards design and architecture both enthralled and mystified her teachers. Some  even went on to say  that Zara was one of the  most brilliant students they had ever taught and after completion of her course she went on to join her teachers and began work in Rotterdam.

Early Career

It was in 1980 that Zaha set up her own Architecture firm in UK and started developing designs which won huge accolades but because they had a futuristic appeal, the response was feeble as far as  business was concerned. Undeterred Zaha continued with her innovative ideas on paper and took to teaching in a big way. By the late 80s Zaha was known as a teacher of repute and her exquisite designs had already appeared in Architectural Journals across the world. Her talent just could not be suppressed and eventually the time came when Zaha got her first major breakthrough at the exhibition ‘ Deconstructevism in Architecture ‘ at New York’s ‘ Museum of Modern Art ‘ in 1988. Her designs were spellbinding and got massive coverage in the press in both  the USA and the UK. Her first independent project was not too far away.

The Queen of the Curve

There was no looking back for Zaha post 1990 as she commissioned one project after another. The expanse of her canvas was massive and so was the visual treat they offered. People were left   in awe of her work. From Europe to the Americas, the Arabs in the  Gulf to the Asian continent, Africa and South America, Zaha Hadid was simply unstoppable and established her name as one of the  finest architects in the world. Her designs exuded fluidic poetry and defied the laws of construction. The complexity of her work was astounding and the geometry   uncoventional.  She very deservedly earned the tag ‘ The Queen of the Curve ‘.

Projects and Rewards

The Vitre Fire Station Building in Germany, The Broad Art Museum in Michigan, the London Acquatic Centre, The Opera House in Guangzhou, The BMW factory in Leipzig, The Italian National Museum of the 21st Century ( Maxxi) in Rome, The Serpentine Sackler Gallery in London, The Daxing International Airport ( The Starfish )Beijing, The Navi Mumbai International Airport ( yet to be constructed ) are a few  of her several noteworthy projects. Zaha became the first woman Architect to win the Pritzker Prize in 2004, the highest award for an architect in the world. She also was the first woman to win the Royal Gold Medal individually and in 2012 she was conferred the title of ‘ Dame ‘ by the Queen. In 2016 a square was named Zaha Hadidplien infront of the Antwerp Harbour House which was designed by her.

Zaha : The extraordinary

All her achievements are there to be seen, however what makes Zaha Hadid so special is the fact that she continued to focus on the work she believed in. She did not budge from the style of design she wanted to pursue and the truth is that she made the world to give in and succumb to her distinct architectural modernism. This is the power of self belief and conviction which Zaha Hadid so abundantly possessed. These personality traits of Zaha made her standout in  the crowd and gave her such a distinctive identity. No wonder she has been an extraordinary influence on both  men and women in the field of architecture and beyond.

Zaha Hadid, passed away in 2016 at a Miami hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest, leaving behind a slew of ambitious unfinished projects. She was 65 and is buried next to her father in Surrey, England. 

Like  a Planet travelling in her own Orbit, Zaha Hadid was courageous and far  ahead of her times…an achiever par excellence…a true inspiration.