Zaha Hadid Foundation Director Selects 10 Archive Items for Anniversary Feature

On the tenth anniversary of Zaha Hadid's passing, Aric Chen, director of the Zaha Hadid Foundation, has chosen ten significant artifacts from the architect's extensive archive for a special feature. Hadid, the Iraqi-British architect known for her pioneering curved designs, died from a heart attack in Miami on March 31, 2016. She remains the only woman to have individually received the Pritzker Architecture Prize, which she was awarded in 2004. The Zaha Hadid Foundation, which manages her legacy, is currently cataloging an estimated 300,000 items in its collection. The foundation is also renovating its London headquarters at 10 Bowling Green Lane, Hadid's former studio, with plans to reopen it as a public exhibition and event space later this year. The selected items span Hadid's career, from her student days to later projects. They include 'Malevich's Tektonik' (1976), a student project envisioning a hotel on London's Hungerford Bridge, influenced by the Russian avant-garde. A sketchbook from 1977 shows early ideas for a Museum of the Nineteenth Century, indicating her enduring connection to Iraq. A painting of 'The Peak' leisure club proposal (1983), which won a Hong Kong competition, helped establish her reputation. A hand-painted jacket she made and wore circa 1985 reveals her personal style. A transparent acrylic presentation box for the Vitra Fire Station (1991-1993), her first built structure, was designed for client meetings. Post-it note sketches from 1989 explore concepts for 'A New Barcelona' competition entry. Study models by artist Daniel Chadwick for a Music Video Pavilion in Groningen (1990) are also featured. A paper relief model for Rome's MAXXI museum (circa 1998) demonstrates innovative spatial representation. The 'Liquid Glacial' dining table (2012) represents her furniture design work. A wooden goat figurine, a personal keepsake, symbolizes her value of friendship. These items illustrate Hadid's creative process, influences, and the breadth of her work beyond architecture.