Zaha

World renowned architect, Zaha Hadid, died last week of a sudden heart attack at the age of 65. Her soaring architecture is best described in these words of architect Peter Cook…”If Paul Klee took a line for a walk, then Zaha took the surfaces that were driven by that line for a dance.”

Dame Hadid was born and raised in Iraq, educated in England and opened her practice there in 1979. She employed Parametricism, an innovative method of using algorithms to dictate shapes of digital models that then become architectural forms. This technique allowed her to experiment with the sculptural capabilities of concrete. Her concrete structures appear to be on the brink of flight.

Her constant goal was to go forward. When accepting England’s prestigious architecture award, the Stirling Prize, she stated, “I have always believed in progress and in creativity’s role in progress. That’s why I remain critical of any traditionalism.”

Zaha Hadid is also renowned for her progress in another arena. She fought with tenacity, courage and intellect to break down the sexist barriers to women in the field of architecture. In a male dominated profession,  she walked through many doors which said, “Men Only”. Zaha Hadid won the Pritzker Prize in 2004, the only woman in the 37 year history of the prize to be recognized.

The body of her work is her greatest legacy. Here is an exhilarating, concise survey produced by Dezeen Daily.

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