Zaha Hadid (1950-2016)

Zaha Hadid's groundbreaking vision redefines the architecture of the 21st century and inspires people's imagination worldwide. Each of her projects has changed the concept of concrete, steel and glass; Combine her firm optimism for the future with her belief in the innovative power of advanced design, materials and architecture.

Many architects are required to create new projects as a symbol of social progress, but none of them is as regular, unexpected and eye-catching as Zaha Hadid. Her success has been so continuous that she has won the highest honors of global citizens, academic and professional institutions. Her practice is still one of the most creative architectural studios in the world, and has a history of nearly 40 years.

Through the analysis of Hadid's architecture, we can understand that the pursuit of beauty is not only her way of work. Her buildings are beautiful, and beauty may be their charm in the city, but also because they attract attention, but the beauty and exquisite skills in her works are connected with meaning. Her buildings are unique in originality, originality and urban atmosphere, providing spacious public space, orderly and easy to browse. When they opened, every building in Hadid had a place in the history of architecture because of its exquisite architecture, architectural concept and pure charm. Her design embodies an enlightened philosophical framework and principled training.

In 2016, Zaha Hadid died of heart disease at the age of 66. After her death, many countries around the world have architectural works that she has designed but not completed, and these works become more precious.

Zaha Hadid Architects

Changsha, China

On November 24, 2020, the Meixi Lake International Cultural and Art Center, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, won the gold medal of the London Design Awards in 2020.

The art center was completed in 2016. On August 31, 2017, the Grand Theater of Changsha Meixi Lake International Culture and Art Center was opened to the public for the first time.

The new culture and art center includes a museum of contemporary art (MICA), a fully equipped theater capable of accommodating 1800 people, and a multi-function hall (small theater). The walking route running through the whole site is connected with the surrounding streets, which defines the organic architectural language.

The Culture and Arts Center is composed of three independent cultural venues. The cluster-like volume forms multiple outdoor courtyards, and provides access to the park and holiday island. Visitors can enjoy the scenery of nearby Meixi Lake from the city. Pedestrian roads converge in the courtyard, providing a venue for outdoor activities and sculpture exhibitions.

Changsha Meixi Lake International Culture and Arts Center is the largest and most widely used cultural center in Hunan. The grand theater of the New Culture and Arts Center will hold various popular performances and TV programs to continue to maintain Changsha's leading position in the national media industry.

The Grand Theater is designed to accommodate different types of performing arts. Its sculptural hall provides reception services, and works together with other necessary auxiliary spaces such as administrative office, rehearsal room, backstage area, cloakroom and dressing room.

Section of the Grand Theater

Grand Theater Auditorium

Art Museum Atrium

Atrium skylight of art museum

The characteristics of small theater are reflected in its flexibility. This multi-function hall with 500 seats can be adjusted to meet different needs of use, from small theatre performances, fashion shows, music performances to banquets and commercial activities.

The total area of the three venues is 115000 square meters. They are distinguished from each other by their unique shapes and form a harmonious relationship.

Architectural night view

Beijing Daxing International Airport/Zaha Hadid Architects

The terminal of Beijing Daxing International Airport, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, was completed on June 30, 2019, and the airport was officially put into operation on September 25, 2019.

Aerial view

The terminal building of Beijing Daxing International Airport is shaped like a phoenix with wings. It is shaped like a five-finger corridor, with passengers as the center. There are 79 boarding gates in the whole terminal building. It takes passengers no more than 8 minutes to walk from the center of the terminal to any boarding gate; The diameter of the round glass dome on the top of the terminal is 80 meters. There are 8 huge C-shaped columns around it, supporting the roof of the entire terminal. There are many bubble windows around the C-shaped columns, which are mainly used for lighting. The terminal can resist a typhoon of 12 degrees.

The top of the airport is designed as "orange", which represents fashion, youth, and dynamism, with a sense of vitality; The sun's light is also orange. Orange is a bright and lively color, and is the warmest color in the warm color system. It reminds people of the golden autumn, rich fruit, and a rich, happy and happy color. Therefore, orange is widely used in our life and deeply loved by people. The final design scheme of the airport is based on the design concept of "bathing fire phoenix", so the whole design extension tends to be close to this concept, so "orange" is selected.

Beijing Daxing International Airport is the largest airport in the world. It is the largest terminal building in history, covering an area of more than 7.5 million square feet. Zaha Hadid Architects, in cooperation with Arup and BuroHappold, designed a large-span steel structure and combined it with a continuous open plan.

Beijing International Airport is a new airport located in Daxing District in the south of the city center. In order to alleviate the congestion of the capital's existing airport, it has been designed as the main transportation hub in the region, fully integrated into the country's expanding transportation network.

The design of the terminal is inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, which organizes interconnected spaces around a central courtyard to guide passengers to the central courtyard through the relevant departure, arrival or transfer areas.

Beijing New Works – Lize SOHO/Zaha Hadid Architects

Beijing, China

Lize SOHO, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, as the hub of Lize Business District, is located in Lize Financial Business District, Fengtai District, Beijing, with a total area of 172800 square meters, 4 floors underground and 45 floors above the ground.

Morpheus Hotel/Zaha Hadid Architects

Macao, China

In June 2018, people were shocked by the strange appearance of Zaha's legacy Morpheus Hotel in Macao and marveled at the beauty of Zaha's design. It costs US $1 billion and 28000 tons of steel structure, equivalent to the iron consumption of four Eiffel towers; 48000 square meters of glass, enough to frame 120000 pieces of Mona Lisa's Smile; 70500 square meters of reinforced concrete can build more than 28 Olympic standard swimming pools.

INFINITUS Plaza

Guangzhou, China

On the morning of November 9, 2021, it took five years to prepare for the construction, with a total investment of 4.5 billion yuan. Zaha Hadid Architects designed the global headquarters of Limitless (China) Co., Ltd. - Guangzhou Limitless Plaza, and held the completion ceremony in Baiyun District, Guangzhou. At the same time, the Infinite Global Scientific Research Center and the Global Experience Center were officially unveiled and settled in the Infinite Square.

Aerial view

Infinite Plaza is the global headquarters of Infinite in China. In addition to integrating the working environment dedicated to enhancing connectivity, creativity and entrepreneurship, the new headquarters also houses the group's herbal medicine research facilities, safety assessment laboratories and learning centers for holding conferences and exhibitions.

Infinite Plaza is committed to creating a healthier and more adaptable collaborative office space. The eight floors form a series of infinite closed loops, enhancing the interaction and communication between all departments.

General layout

The office space is arranged around the central space and multiple courtyards. Its form echoes the infinite symbol "∞", creating a variety of shared indoor and outdoor spaces with a strong sense of community, and highlighting the unlimited corporate culture of "thinking and people".

The interconnected bridge provides employees with diverse and flexible public spaces, including gymnasiums, gyms, entertainment and relaxation areas, restaurants and cafes, which have a positive impact on individual and collective health. In addition, these bridges also connect the office space of the square with the shopping and catering areas in the future.