Zaha Hadid: A Legacy of Femininity in Modern Architecture
World-renowned British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid passed away on March 31 in Miami at the age of 65. Known as the “Queen of the Curve” for her architecture style, Hadid was the first woman to receive the Royal Institute of British Architects’ gold medal in 2016 and the first woman to win the Pritzker Prize, awarded to architects who produce “significant contributions to humanity and the built environment,” in 2004. A fellow winner of the Stirling Prize, Amanda Levete, remarked that Hadid “was an extraordinary role model for women. She was fearless and a trailblazer – her work was brave and radical.” Although Hadid’s work was praised abroad, it was not well-received in the United Kingdom. Because Hadid was born in Baghdad and her work was unexpectedly modern, she initially struggled to gain the respect of the British architecture scene, but later had work commissioned around the world. Hadid’s notable designs include the 2012 London Olympics Aquatic Center, the Guangzhou Opera House in China, and the 2022 Qatar World Cup stadium. Hadid’s supporters have noted that her highly experimental, iconic structures are a testament to her architectural genius and determination to succeed in a male-dominated environment.
Both the British and Iraqi governments expressed their condolences and admiration in the wake of Hadid’s passing. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson tweeted: “So sad to hear of death of Zaha Hadid, she was an inspiration and her legacy lives on in wonderful buildings in Stratford and around the world.” In an official statement, the Iraqi government described her passing as “an irreplaceable loss to Iraq and the global community.”
Despite having made a lasting impression on the world of architecture, Hadid never quite felt like she belonged, and she liked it that way. In a talk on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs in February, Hadid said, “I don’t really feel I’m part of the establishment. I’m not outside, I’m on the kind of edge, I’m dangling there. I quite like it…. I’m not against the establishment per se. I just do what I do and that’s it.”