Zaha Hadid, Queen of the Curve

Hi there! I’m Dima. Architecture is one of the most important forms of art which you can see everyday. Today I want to write about Zaha Hadid, who is one of the most popular architects of our time. Her works can be seen all over the world.

Zaha Hadid (1950-2016) was a prominent Iraqi-British architect renowned for her innovative and groundbreaking architectural designs. She was described by The Guardian as the “Queen of the curve”, who “liberated architectural geometry, giving it a whole new expressive identity”. Zaha Hadid was one of the most admired and extraordinary architects of her time. Forbes even named her among the 100 most powerful women in the world. Her daring and unconventional buildings tiptoe the line between fantasy and reality, changing our understanding of what architecture can do.

Zaha Hadid was born in Baghdad, Iraq, and studied mathematics at the American University of Beirut before pursuing architecture at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London. Later she created her own architecture buro “Zaha Hadid Architects”.

Hadid’s architectural style is characterized by bold, dynamic forms, and innovative use of materials and technology. Her designs often challenge traditional architectural norms.

She was associated with the deconstructivist movement, which seeks to break away from conventional architectural principles and create complex, fragmented structures.

Her major works include the London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympics, the Broad Art Museum, Rome’s MAXXI Museum, and the Guangzhou Opera House. Some of her awards have been presented posthumously, including the statuette for the 2017 Brit Awards. Several of her buildings were still under construction at the time of her death, including the Daxing International Airport in Beijing, and the Al Wakrah Stadium (now Al Janoub) in Qatar, a venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Zaha Hadid was the first woman to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize, often considered the Nobel Prize of architecture, in 2004. Her work was celebrated for its visionary and futuristic qualities. She received the UK’s most prestigious architectural award, the Stirling Prize, in 2010 and 2011. In 2012, she was made a Dame by Elizabeth II for services to architecture, and in February 2016, the month preceding her death, she became the first woman to be individually awarded the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Hadid was a pioneer in the use of parametric design, a method that uses algorithms and computer modeling to create intricate and dynamic architectural forms. Her style became the basis of the architecture of Suprematism.

Suprematism is characterized by its focus on geometric shapes, especially the use of simple geometric forms such as squares, rectangles, circles, and lines, placed in dynamic compositions. Suprematist artworks often consist of geometric shapes and forms that are stripped down to their basic elements, devoid of representational or symbolic content.

Suprematism employed a limited color palette of primary colors (red, blue, yellow) along with black and white. These colors were used to create bold and visually striking compositions.

Suprematism aimed to create art that had no reference to the external world or recognizable objects. It sought to explore the pure visual language of form and color.

Suprematist compositions often give a sense of movement, energy and dynamism through the arrangement of geometric elements in various directions and orientations.

One of the most iconic works of Suprematism is Kazimir Malevich’s “Black Square,” painted in 1915. This simple black square on a white background is considered a symbolic representation of the ultimate essence of art and the rejection of representational forms.

Suprematism had a significant influence on other art movements such as Constructivism as well as on later modernist and abstract art.

Hadid’s influence extended beyond architecture; she collaborated with various industries, including fashion and art, and her designs often blurred the lines between architecture and other creative disciplines.

Zaha Hadid’s legacy lives on through the Zaha Hadid Architects firm, which continues to realize her design visions. Her impact on architecture and design continues to inspire architects worldwide.

Zaha Hadid’s innovative designs and contributions have left an indelible mark on the world of architecture, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the field.

 

 

 

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