"Women in architecture bring a fresh lens, a unique voice, and invaluable contributions that shape the built environment, making it more inclusive, sustainable, and meaningful for all."

Women have always struggled with representation, opportunities, and recognition in the field of architecture. Yet, there has been advancement in recent years regarding the position of women in architecture. Women are breaking down barriers, entering the workforce in greater numbers, and contributing significantly. There are continuing activities aimed at empowering and assisting women to pursue jobs and leadership positions, and acknowledgment for their work to improve gender diversity, inclusion, and equity in architecture.

In the field of architecture, Zaha Hadid stands out as a woman who overcame all obstacles and made a difference by designing some of the greatest projects.

Her famous architectural creations have left a lasting impression on the world's skylines and landscapes. She pushes the frontiers of what is feasible in architecture and design with her work, which has been hailed as transformational, revolutionary, and visionary. The contributions of Zaha Hadid to the area of architecture are still recognized, and many modern architects and designers have been influenced by her style.

Zaha was an architect and designer renowned for her innovative and forward-thinking work. On October 31, 1950, she was born in Baghdad, Iraq, and died on March 31, 2016, in Miami, Florida, in the United States.

Being up in Baghdad, Zaha Hadid became interested in art and architecture from a young age. In 1972, she relocated to London to attend the Architectural Association School of Architecture, where she established a reputation for her avant-garde and experimental design methods.

In 1979, Zaha Hadid founded her firm of architects, Zaha Hadid Architects. Her work was renowned for its particularly dynamic and futuristic aesthetic, highlighted by swooping lines, strong forms, and an air of movement.

Design Philosophy:

Zaha Hadid pioneered parametricism, an architectural style that uses advanced computational tools to create complex and dynamic forms. She believed architecture should reflect the contemporary technological and cultural context, and parametricism allowed her to create innovative and futuristic designs.

Zaha Hadid's designs emphasize fluidity and movement, challenging traditional architecture and creating spaces that are dynamic and responsive to their surroundings, blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior.

Zaha Hadid's radical deconstructivist design philosophy is bold, fluid, and futuristic forms that challenge traditional notions of space and form, pushing the boundaries of architecture through innovation, experimentation, and dynamic design language.

Notable works:

Known for her unique and ground-breaking designs, Zaha Hadid was a well-known architect across the world. China's Guangzhou Opera House is one of her most well-known creations. This cultural icon was completed in 2010 and is renowned for its eye-catching, futuristic style. The Guangzhou Opera House has a dynamic, curved shape that recalls two stones that the Pearl River swept ashore. Among the many honours it has received are the 2012 WAN Performance Spaces Award and the 2011 RIBA International Award.

The MAXXI National Museum of 21st Century Arts is one of Zaha's other well-known creations. The 2010-built MAXXI National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome, Italy, is a stunning illustration of Zaha Hadid's fluid and futuristic design aesthetic. The museum's curved shapes, interconnecting rooms, and striking structural features give it a feeling of fluidity and movement.

One of Zaha Hadid's earliest works, the Vitra Fire Station was designed by her and was finished in 1993 in Weil am Rhein, Germany. It is recognized as a masterpiece of deconstructivist architecture. Sharp angles, slanted planes, and striking crossing volumes give the structure a dynamic, moving appearance. It pushed the limits of architectural form and spatial experience while serving as a useful fire station for Vitra furniture manufacturing.

Awards and Accolades of Zaha

Over her lengthy career, Zaha Hadid won various honours and awards. She was the first woman to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004 and other notable honours she has received include the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2016, another first for a woman, and the Stirling Prize, which she won twice for the MAXXI Museum in Rome and the Evelyn Grace Academy in London in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Being one of the most significant architects of her time, she also got honorary degrees from major colleges all over the world and was acknowledged for her contributions to design, innovation, and architecture via several additional prizes and accolades.

Background

She was raised in a wealthy home and developed an early interest in both mathematics and art. After continuing her study, Hadid received a Bachelor of Mathematics from the American University of Beirut in 1968 and a Bachelor of Architecture from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London in 1972. In 1977, she graduated with a Master of Architecture from the same college.

Zaha Hadid worked with some renowned architectural companies after finishing her studies, including the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) and the Architects' Co-Partnership (ACP). She established her particular style during this period, which is noted for its flowing shapes, dynamic curves, and parametric approach.

Zaha Hadid started her own architecture business in London in 1980, and it eventually expanded to become the well-known Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA). Although suffering initial obstacles and problems in seeing her plans through to completion, Hadid's creativity and avant-garde approach to architecture eventually acquired attention, and she began to be hired for big projects all over the world.