Figure 3 Zaha Hadid’s early life and career photomontage

Early Life & Career

Zara Hadid began her studies at the American University in Beirut in 1968, whereby she received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. In 1972, she then traveled to London to pursue her studies at the Architectural Association School of Architecture. She met the architects, Elia Zenghelis and Rem Koolhaas, while studying there, and worked with them later on at the Office of Metropolitan Architecture. In 1979, Zara Hadid founded her own London-based firm, known as Zaha Hadid Architects (John Zukowsky, 2021).

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 Modern Art in 1988 (John Zukowsky, 2021). In the 1980s and early ‘90s, Zara Hadid was only known as a ‘paper architect’, as her designs were said to be far too advanced to be built after the sketch phase. However, with her incredible rendered designs that were expressed in the form of meticulously detailed colour paintings, the impression and image of her was heightened when her rendered designs were displayed as works of art in renowned museums. Aside from designing buildings and interior spaces, Zaha Hadid also designed furniture, bags, jewelry, and footwear (John Zukowsky, 2021). From Zaha Hadid was a member of

the Encyclopedia Britannica Editorial Board of Advisors from 2005 to 2006. In addition, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2012. She also taught architecture at many universities, some of which included the Architectural Association School of Architecture, University of Chicago, Harvard University, Yale University, and more (John Zukowsky, 2021).