Dame Zaha Hadid, one of the most iconic figures in modern architecture, sadly passed away on the 31st of March 2016. She leaves a lasting legacy in the architectural field, both for her instantly recognisable designs and for the highly respected profile she achieved. She is the only woman to achieve the status of sole recipient of the RIBA Gold Medal after being awarded the 2016 honour. Before this, she received the Pritzker Prize in 2004, and won the Stirling Prize for two years running in 2010 and 2011. Her outstanding contribution to architecture was highlighted when she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE).
The buildings Hadid designed are roundly praised for their distinctive curved forms and for their positive impact on the surrounding environment. Her vision and willingness to experiment are inspirational and have influenced architects across the world. From the London Aquatics Centre that played such a central role at the 2012 Olympic Games to the MAXXI in Rome and Guangzhou Opera House in China, she contributed many celebrated works.
Contemporary, forward-thinking designs were Hadid’s forte and she will be remembered for constantly exploring new ideas and pushing the limits of possibility in public and commercial architecture. Her body of work speaks for itself, including her theoretical designs for projects that were never built. Cardiff Bay Opera House is possibly the most well known of her theoretical work. Her design for a new home for the Welsh National Opera won an international design competition, but the project failed to gain the required financial backing, and the Wales Millennium Centre was built on the site instead. Her designs remain as an intriguing glimpse of what could have been.
Her boundary-breaking designs split opinion on several occasions and often caused controversy. In fact, it took until 2011 for one of her major projects to be built in the UK, despite the praise her work in other countries had received. This building, the Riverside Museum in Glasgow, remains one of her most appealing and popular works here in the UK, and will stand as a testament to her talent.
Through her many successes and the challenges she faced, Hadid never compromised her faith in the contemporary and stuck to her imaginative, daring approach in everything she did. Architects across the globe will undoubtedly continue to learn from her fearless attitude and significant achievements.