Farewell to Zaha Hadid, the grand dame of architecture (1950–2016)

Portrait of Zaha Hadid
Born in Baghdad in 1950, Zaha Hadid began her journey in architecture at the Architectural Association in London in 1972. Pictured: the grand dame of architecture and Wallpaper* guest editor, photographed at her home in London, July 2008.
(Image credit: David Hughes)

Dame Zaha Hadid, DBE passed away in Miami in the early hours of Thursday, 31 March. 

Few architects defined an era like Hadid did. Born in Baghdad in 1950 she began her journey in architecture at the Architectural Association in London in 1972, following a degree in mathematics at the American University of Beirut.

Her work stood out for its innovative approach, mesmerising curves and beauty, that was simultaneously poetic and revolutionary. Her unique way of form-making was like nothing the architecture world had seen before and inspired a whole generation of architects. Her explorations in unexpected, dynamic shapes and innovative technologies transformed our perceptions of what architecture should look like and raised the bar for many who followed.  

As a Wallpaper* guest editor in 2008, Hadid created an original multi-part cut out artwork to run through the pages.


(Image credit: press)

As a Wallpaper* guest editor in 2008, Hadid created an original multi-part cut out artwork to run through the pages. See the full story from the archives here

Her ground-breaking practice kicked off with theoretical works such as The Peak in Hong Kong (1983), a competition that sadly never came to be built; the Kurfürstendamm in Berlin (1986); and the Cardiff Bay Opera House in Wales (1994). Her own practice, Zaha Hadid Architects, was set up soon after graduation, in 1979, following a two-year period at the Office of Metropolitan Architecture (OMA). 

Her first built project was the fairly modest (in size, at least) Vitra Fira Station in Weil Am Rhein, Germany, completed in 1993. Once she started building, the world was charmed and commissions kept coming in. The list is long, notable buildings including the MAXXI: Italian National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome (2009); the celebrated London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympic Games (2011); and the more recent Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku (2013). 

Her work was as forward-thinking and thought provoking as it is timeless. 'Her work, though full of form, style and unstoppable mannerism, possesses a quality that some of us might refer to as an impeccable "eye" – which we would claim is a fundamental in the consideration of special architecture and is rarely satisfied by mere "fashion",' said Sir Peter Cook on the occasion of her 2016 RIBA Royal Gold Medal win

Hadid was also widely recognised as one of the greatest female architects practicing internationally. And this is only one of the myriad ways her work stands out – for her distinctions were many. A 2004 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate (the first woman ever to receive the honour), she was also awarded the RIBA Stirling Prize twice, alongside more accolades in the UK and abroad. She was also one of the first ever Wallpaper* guest editors, lending her design charisma to our pages in 2008’s October issue.

Pictured: Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan (2007–2012).

Here, we pay tribute to one of the most significant architectural practitioners of the 20th and 21st centuries. Pictured: Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan (2007–2012). 

(Image credit: Hufton + Crow)

Featured in the April 2015 issue of Wallpaper*, Vladislav Doronin’s $160m Hadid-designed space rocket/private home

Featured in the April 2015 issue of Wallpaper*, Vladislav Doronin’s $160m Hadid-designed space rocket/private home.

(Image credit: Daniel Stier​)

‘People told me it couldn’t be built,’ says Vladislav Doronin of his $160m home.

‘People told me it couldn’t be built,’ says Vladislav Doronin of his $160m home. ‘The builders said it couldn’t be built. At times, I thought it couldn’t be built. But Zaha, who is a strong woman, very intelligent, very smart – a genius, in fact – insisted.’ 

(Image credit: Daniel Stier)

Hadid’s first built project was the fairly modest (in size, at least) Vitra Fire Station in Weil Am Rhein, Germany,

Hadid’s first built project was the fairly modest (in size, at least) Vitra Fire Station in Weil Am Rhein, Germany, completed in 1993.

(Image credit: Christian Richters)

The 2013 ’Prima’ installation for Swarovski at the Vitra Campus.

The 2013 ’Prima’ installation for Swarovski at the Vitra Campus.

(Image credit: Helene Binet)

Hadid’s Serpentine Gallery.

Her work stood out for its innovative approach, mesmerising curves and beauty, that was simultaneously poetic and revolutionary. Pictured: Hadid’s Serpentine Gallery

(Image credit: Luke Hayes)

Evelyn Grace Academy, London.

Her own practice, Zaha Hadid Architects, was set up almost straight after graduation, in 1979, following a two-year period at the Office of Metropolitan Architecture (OMA). Pictured: Evelyn Grace Academy, London

(Image credit: Luke Hayes)

The Middle East Centre at St Antony’s College, Oxford

The Middle East Centre at St Antony’s College, Oxford

(Image credit: press)

BMW Central Building in Leipzig, Germany (2005).

BMW Central Building in Leipzig, Germany (2005).

(Image credit: Helen Binet)

520 West 28th Street was Zaha Hadid’s first residential build in New York City

520 West 28th Street was Zaha Hadid’s first residential build in New York City, due to be completed in June 2016

(Image credit: press)

London Aquatics Centre, built for the 2012 Olympic Games

London Aquatics Centre, built for the 2012 Olympic Games (2005–2011)

(Image credit: Hufton + Crow)

New National Stadium, Japan

New National Stadium, Japan

(Image credit: press)

Phaeno Science Centre in Wolfsburg, Germany (2000–2005)

Phaeno Science Centre in Wolfsburg, Germany (2000–2005). 

(Image credit: Werner Huthmacher)

Dongdaemun Design Park & Plaza in Seoul, South Korea

Dongdaemun Design Park & Plaza in Seoul, South Korea (2007–2013)

(Image credit: Virgile Bertrand)

MAXXI: Museum of XXI Century Art in Rome, Italy

MAXXI: Museum of XXI Century Art in Rome, Italy (1998–2009).

(Image credit: Richard Bryant)

Messner Mountain Museum, Mount Kronplatz, the Dolomites

Messner Mountain Museum, Mount Kronplatz, the Dolomites. 

(Image credit: Inexhibit)

Sleuk Rith Institute in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Sleuk Rith Institute in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

(Image credit: press)

Dominion Tower in Moscow

Dominion Tower in Moscow.

(Image credit: Hufton+Crow)

Dominion Tower in Moscow.

Dominion Tower in Moscow. 

(Image credit: Hufton+Crow)

BMW Central Building, Leipzig, Germany.

BMW Central Building, Leipzig, Germany. 

(Image credit: Helene Binet)

Contemporary Arts Centre, Cincinnati.

Contemporary Arts Centre, Cincinnati. 

(Image credit: Roland Halbe)

Guangzhou Opera House, Guangzhou.

Guangzhou Opera House, Guangzhou.

(Image credit: Virgile Simon Bertrand)

Nordpark Railway Stations, Hungerburg Station, Innsbruck

Nordpark Railway Stations, Hungerburg Station, Innsbruck

(Image credit: Werner Huthmacher)

Jockey Club Innovation Tower at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Jockey Club Innovation Tower at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

(Image credit: Doublespace)

Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).