Today is the birthday of Iraqi-British architect, Zaha Hadid. Known for her sculptural designs and commanding demeanor, the renown female artist is turning 61 years old this Halloween.
Born in Baghdad in 1950, Hadid began her early career under the tutelage of architectural giant, Rem Koolhaas. In the late 1970s, the two worked together at the Architectural Association in London, prompting Koolhaas to describe the budding artist as “a planet in her own orbit." In 1980, Hadid established her eponymous London-based architectural firm, Zaha Hadid Architects, creating a home for her then radical style -- a brand of neo-modernist design that freely borrowed from Constructivist and Suprematist forms.
Hadid earned her first international accolade in 1982, creating the winning submission for the 'The Peak' architectural competition in Hong Kong. Throughout the next three decades, Hadid would add not one but two Stirling Prizes to a long list of recognitions, perhaps most notable among them the title of the first female laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004. During this time, Hadid created some of her most well-known projects, including the Cardiff Bay Opera House in Wales, the Vitra Fire Station in Germany, and the Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Arts in the U.S.
Hadid's work, characterized by organic lines and fluid interior spaces, can be seen in locations across the globe today. Beyond her architectural achievements, Hadid has also been praised for her paintings, drawings, and product design. In honor of her birthday, we've put together a slideshow of some of her work. Scroll through the images and let us know what you think of her futuristic designs in the comments section.
