Remembering Zaha Hadid

Zaha Hadid, one of the world's greatest architects, designer, visionary, trailblazer, the first woman to win the Pritzker Prize, an inspiration to women across the world,  who fought in a man's world and changed the face of architecture for ever, died yesterday at the age of 65.

'Over her 30-year old career, the Iraqi-born, London-based designer developed a style more recognisable and more imitated, than any of her contemporaries, transforming what began as world of dreamy abstract paintings into a global brand for daring art galleries and experimental opera houses that now dot the globe from Baku to Guangzhou'. (Oliver Wainwright in the Guardian )

In her memory and to celebrate her iconic work,  I have reposted two of my earlier blog posts on her work.


The Serpentine Sackler Gallery

Next, we crossed the bridge, and arrived at the Serpentine Sackler gallery, the 1805 brick gunpowder storage building on the right, and the new linked pavilion designed by Zaha Hadid on the left.

The elegant roof is made from PTFE-coated glass-fibre woven fabric, its super-smooth moulded look a complete contrast to the brickwork of the 19th century building

It's a wondrous place - there is a lightness to the whole building as if it's about to float away

the brick of the old building is in contrast to the smoothness of the new, but they complement each other beautifully

as do the sculpted columns with their smooth moulded surface

but the wonder is seeing the columns as you walk in - it's like liquid light pouring down from the ceiling on to the floor

it is truly awesome

Some of the critics have been really scathing about the extension, and I really cannot understand it.

 

Being in there was a real experience: it's light (some critics said they found it dark!), airy, architecturally interesting,

but even if it was none of the above, just that light pouring in, is enough - it's stunning





flowing, organic forms

looking out

  

flowers on the tables in Alvar Aalto vases.

Finally, the washrooms are cutting edge as well - hot air came out of the Dyson taps after we had washed our hands.

The Maxxi

A fairly typical Roman exterior, you might think....

but not once you step through these gates....

this is the Maxxi, Rome's brand-new museum of twenty first century art and architecture...

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