Zaha Hadid was not only a phenomenal architect, she is an architect that will remain in the history books.
The British-Iraqi legend became the first woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004 and also became the first and only woman to be awarded the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects – achievements which, in turn, transformed the architecture industry.
She’s particularly known for her embrace of curvaceous buildings that ridded the geometric limitations the world of architecture once faced.
Her legacy lives on with the incredible buildings she designed during her 40-year-career— here are ten of the coolest and most iconic Zaha Hadid buildings around the globe.
The Opus, Dubai, UAE
Whilst Hadid’s buildings sit tall across the globe, few can be found in the region. Her first and only structure in Dubai is ‘The Opus’, which now stands as a local masterpiece. The building, which is situated in the Burj Khalifa district and developed by Omniyat Properties, opened its doors in early 2019, two years after her passing.
Roca Gallery, London, UK
Completed in 2011, the building was inspired by water, which as Hadid put “it acts as a transformer moving, without interruption, through the façade, carving the interior and flowing through the main gallery as drops of water”. The building can be found in Battersea in South West London.
Heydar Aliyev Centre, Baku, Azerbaijan
The centre, which is devoted to celebrating Azerbaijani culture was designed and completed by Zaha Hadid in 2012. It now serves as one of the nation’s most important buildings, housing a variety of institutions under one roof.
Investcorp Building, Oxford, UK
Zaha Hadid’s design for this Oxford building won her the World Architecture Award in 2016. The architect was commemorated for her incorporation of the natural environment surrounding the university, with a stainless-steel facade, and a curved reading room that acclimates a century-old Sequoia tree facing it.
The Serpentine Sackler Gallery, London, UK
Located in Kensington Gardens, London, the building is an undeniably contemporary design, with a distinguished elegance. The building was completed in 2013, and was Hadid’s first structure in the UK.
Guangzhou Opera House, Guangzhou, China
Completed in 2010, this striking structure is renowned for its futuristic and organic design, which reflects Hadid’s signature fluid, avant-garde aesthetic. The building, often referred to as “twin boulders” due to its two asymmetrical volumes, appears to emerge naturally from the Pearl River, echoing the forms of river pebbles smoothed over time by water.
Antwerp Port House, Antwerp, Belgium
The historic-fire-station-turned-architectural-marvel was completed in 2016, the year of Hadid’s death. Featuring a bold, futuristic glass structure that appears to “float” above the original building, the new extension is shaped like a giant ship’s bow, paying homage to Antwerp’s reputation as one of Europe’s busiest ports.
Al Janoub Stadium, Doha, Qatar
The Zaha Hadid-designed stadium was the first of six built for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Located in one of the oldest inhabited areas of Qatar, a historic port city located 15 kilometers south of Doha, the 40,000-seat venue pulls inspiration from a local fishing boat— the Arabian dhow.
Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, Michigan, USA
The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University, designed by Zaha Hadid and completed in 2012, is a striking example of her signature deconstructivist style. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this contemporary art museum stands out for its angular, dynamic design that defies traditional architectural forms.
Beeah Headquarters, Sharjah, UAE
The striking sand dune-inspired building was one of the final projects Hadid worked on before her death in 2016. Completed in 2022, the 9,000 meter building serves as the headquarters for environmental management company Beeah Group in Sharjah.
