Zaha Hadid

Zaha Hadid

The book “Zaha Hadid – Radical Space: Building for the 21st Century” covers the life, work, and architectural evolution of Zaha Hadid.

It focuses on:

• her role as one of today's most important architects
• her early deconstructivist designs, long considered "unrealizable"
• the transition to later fluid, organic, and sculptural forms
• her most important works worldwide (including museums, opera houses, cultural and sports centers)
• her influence on 21st-century architecture

Through numerous projects, the book shows how Hadid rethought architecture, from abstract drawings to large constructed buildings, and documents her journey as the first woman to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid is one of the most important figures in contemporary architecture with her modernist and futuristic designs and extraordinary architectural forms. She was the first woman to receive the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize and managed to establish herself in a heavily male-dominated industry with visionary projects.

Work and Architecture

Zaha Hadid (1950–2016) founded her architectural studio in London and was internationally recognized long before her first realized project, the Vitra Campus Fire Station in Weil am Rhein, was built. Her early designs were considered radical, deconstructivist, and difficult to build, but they defined the perception of a new experimental architecture early on.

Over time, her work evolved into more fluid and organic forms. Rigid edges were replaced by dynamic structures where floors, walls, ceilings, and furniture are integrated as part of a single spatial concept.

Featured Works

Among Zaha Hadid's best-known projects are the Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati, the MAXXI Museum in Rome, the Guangzhou Opera House in China, the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, the phaeno science center in Wolfsburg, and the London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympic Games.

These works are considered milestones of modern architecture and stand out for their sculptural language and experimental approach to space.

Product Details

Format: hardcover
Dimensions: 21 x 26 cm
Pages: 96
Weight: 0.63 kg
Language: German, English, and Spanish
Publisher: TASCHEN
Author: Philip Jodidio

TASCHEN Basic Architecture Series

This volume is part of the successful TASCHEN Basic Architecture series. Since 1985, it has been one of the best-selling art book collections in the world.

Each title includes:
• an introduction to the architect's life and work
• the most important works in chronological order
• information on planning, clients, and execution
• a selection of key projects with location map
• approximately 120 images including photographs, sketches, and plans