When speaking about empowered women Zaha Hadid comes to mind. A woman of Iraqi origin, capable of taking architecture to a whole new level, whose designs would leave one thinking that they got a chance to see a glimpse from the future.
The late Hadid, born in Baghdad but carried a bachelor’s degree from the American University in Beirut, didn’t just accept what was universally acknowledged at this time. She fought her way into a field that has been always under male predominance leaving her undeniable imprint.
Why is Zaha Hadid so inspirational? Zaha was an architect known for her radical deconstructivist designs. In fact it’s not as easy as it sounds, almost all her early works were undermined. At some point, the majority of her surroundings were discouraging, and she was even called “ A Paper Architect” by lots of those who believed her designs were extremely impractical and they were not created to be executed, ever! However, did these circumstances hinder her? Not at all!
She started in the eighties, trusted the process and accepted the fact that progress is not linear and voila! Proceeding slowly but surely, the queen of the curves has made a name for herself through her radical deconstructionist designs. These sorts of designs counteract the old.
In the 2000s, the execution of her design of the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art in Ohio began; it was the first American museum designed by a woman.Finally, her efforts were rounded off by the fact that she was the first woman to be awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize, in 2004.
Be it south or north, east or west, Hadid left a timeless impression. Her buildings included the Heydar Aliyev Centre Baku, Azerbaijan, and the MAXXI museum of contemporary art and architecture in Rome. However, the Riverside museum in Glasgow remains her most prominent work. The architect described it as"a sectional extrusion open at both ends." The shape of the cross section resembles a jagged wave, the design aimed at symbolizing the recreation of Glasgow's links with its riverfront.
To conclude, we should always appreciate those who paved previously unpaved roads in front of others. Additionally, one should always believe in their ability to break social taboos that limit women’s roles in some fields.
Now think about it, haven’t you been inspired by today’s story?
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