Zaha Hadid

Zaha Hadid was an Iraqi-born British architect and designer known for radical deconstructivist and neo-futurist work.

Zaha Hadid was an Iraqi-born British architect and designer known for radical deconstructivist and neo-futurist work. She became the first woman to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004 and was widely regarded as one of the most influential architects of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Early life and education

Hadid was born in Baghdad to an Iraqi family and first studied mathematics before turning to architecture. She moved to London in 1972 and studied at the Architectural Association, where her ideas began to gain attention.

Career and practice

After graduating, Hadid worked with the Office of Metropolitan Architecture and later established Zaha Hadid Architects in London in 1980. Her practice developed a reputation for ambitious, unconventional forms and international commissions.

Style and influence

Hadid’s work is commonly linked to deconstructivism, with later projects often described as fluid, curving, and neo-futurist. She also used painting and drawing as part of her design process, and her ideas influenced architecture, design, and education globally.

Recognition and awards

Hadid received major honours including the Pritzker Prize, the RIBA Royal Gold Medal, and multiple Stirling Prizes. Her 2004 Pritzker win made her the first woman to receive that award.

Legacy

Hadid’s death in 2016 did not diminish the influence of her firm or her wider reputation. Her name remains closely associated with experimental architectural form and with the expansion of opportunities for women in architecture.