HADID ZAHA

story

born in Baghdad in 1950, she studied mathematics at the American University of Beirut, in 1972, to attend Architectural Association courses. After graduating in 1976, thanks to the discussion of a thesis on the subject of the inhabited bridge and proposing a project entitled "Malevič Tektonik", he continued to attend the Architectural Association as a teacher until 1987. In London he also made his debut on the international scene, achieving early success through the display of numerous paintings that described constructivist-inspired environments, created starting from the 1970s: visionary figurations, which can be read in retrospect as evidence of the pivotal role that drawing has always played in the creative process of Hadid. Finally, in 1979, the Anglo-Iraqi designer founded her first professional firm called Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) in the capital of the United Kingdom.

important buildings

• Messner Mountain Museum Corones (sud Tirolo)
• Dominion (Mosca)
• Investcorp Building (Oxford)
• Issam Fares Institute (Beirut)
• London Aquatics Centre (parco olimpico di Londra)
• Heydar Aliyev Center (Baku)
• Serpentine Sackler Gallery (Londra)

concept

Designed by Rogier van der Heide, the lighting symbolises the connecting nature of the bridge and the energy of the city of Abu Dhabi.

The structure consists of three sand dune-shaped arches linked together by concrete blocks, with the largest arch rising 63 metres above the roadway. The road decks are suspended from the arches, creating a waveform having a fluid silhouette.

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architecture

The structure and arches are built of steel, and the deck is made of pre-stressed concrete. The structure of the bridge was built in such a way that it could withstand high wind speeds, high and low temperatures as well as natural disasters. It has an engineered life span of about 120 years.

It also features dynamic lighting, seen in the illuminating colours along the spine of the bridge. It consists of over 2,000 cells, on the road and below the deck.

concept

Designed as the centre-piece for the new financial district, the building incorporates a subway station within its base, and it is the presence of subway lines that have defined the building’s unique shape.

As the building rises, its diagonal axis is twisted through 45 degrees to orientate the atrium’s higher floors with Beijing’s historic north-south axis. This twist not only creates views from the centre on all levels, but also allows natural light to penetrate deep into the building’s floorplate.

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architecture

The structural system of Leeza Soho is a combination of concrete and steel.

This combination enabled Zaha Hadid to realize the fluid, dynamic forms, while maintaining construction and economic feasibilities.

Each of the two halves of Leeza Soho have their own structural core and perimeter columns that follow the curvilinear exterior form of the tower, with steel tension rings surrounding each floor plate. The four aerial bridges that connect the towers are made of wide-flange steel beams and columns, which provide the right strength to resist bending stress and enabled the bridges to span extended distances.

concept

The concept behind Zaha Hadid's project was to give shape to a fluid exhibition space, as opposed to the traditional articulation in separate rooms typical of most museums, even overcoming the rigid distinction between external and internal space.

At the center of this setting - its primitive strength - lies a confluence of lines - walls that intersect and diverge continuously to create internal and external spaces.

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architecture

With a total area of approximately 30,000 square meters, the complex integrates a part of the pre-existing military structures with a new building characterized by an L-shaped plant. A large atrium full height, the fulcrum of the museum; from the atrium the staircase leads to a series of suspended walkways that interconnect the parts of the building to the upper levels. In the old military buildings, the restaurant, the library and the documentation and archive center of the architecture were placed.

The external areas created between the volumes form a set of interconnected outdoor spaces set up with chairs, tables, benches in white concrete and green areas.