CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Early Life & Career Zara Hadid began her studies at the American University in Beirut in 1968, whereby she
In the 1980s and early ‘90s, Zara Hadid
From
received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. In 1972, she then traveled to London to pursue
was only known as a ‘paper architect’, as
the Encyclopedia Britannica Editorial Board
her studies at the Architectural Association School of Architecture. She met the architects, Elia
her designs were said to be far too
of Advisors from 2005 to 2006. In addition,
Zenghelis and Rem Koolhaas, while studying there, and worked with them later on at the
advanced to be built after the sketch phase.
she was made a Dame Commander of the
Office of Metropolitan Architecture. In 1979, Zara Hadid founded her own London-based firm,
However, with her incredible rendered
Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2012.
known as Zaha Hadid Architects (John Zukowsky, 2021).
designs that were expressed in the form of
She
meticulously detailed colour paintings, the
universities, some of which included the
impression
Architectural
In 1983, Zara Hadid’s competition-winning submission for The Peak Leisure Club in Hong Kong gained international recognition. According to her design that was inspired by Kazimir Malevich and the Suprematists, it is a horizontal building that moves at a dynamic diagonal down the hillside site. Furthermore, Zaha Hadid used geometric shapes and forms to give the building a sense of fragmentation, instability and movement. Ultimately, this fragmented style led her to be grouped with the deconstructivist architects, a label that was popularized by the landmark exhibition, “Deconstructivist Architecture”, held at New York City’s Museum of
and
image
of
her
was
Zaha Hadid
also
taught
was a member
architecture
Association
at
School
of
many
of
heightened when her rendered designs
Architecture, University of Chicago, Harvard
were displayed as works of art in renowned
University, Yale University, and more (John
museums. Aside from designing buildings
Zukowsky, 2021).
and interior spaces, Zaha Hadid also designed
furniture,
bags,
jewelry,
and
footwear (John Zukowsky, 2021).
Modern Art in 1988 (John Zukowsky, 2021).
Figure 3 Zaha Hadid’s early life and career photomontage, 2022 photomontage by Brianna Chan
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