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Design Inspiration: Zaha Hadid

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I have been following the designs of architect Zaha Hadid from afar for several years now, and wanted to write about her today because I was so saddened to hear she passed away at the age of 65 yesterday (NY Times Article). Iraqi-born, and based in London, she was one of those brilliant minds centuries ahead of her time that have changed the shape of architecture today– a modern-day Frank Lloyd Wright. She is mostly known for her space-like designs in the civil and commercial sector, like these:


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In progress: World Cup 2022 Al Wakrah Stadium, Qatar


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Beethoven Concert Hall, Germany


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Mountain Museum, Northern Italy


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Heydar Aliyev Center, Azerbaijan


See also NY Times Article Zaha’s Most Striking Designs.


However, her talents crossed-over into residential– which was always what fascinated me. I had the privilege of walking one of her residential jobsites in Silicon Valley some months ago, and was struck by the innovative layout and finishes.


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Instead of using the same siding, and doors and windows that so many modern architects use over and over again, she used vertical siding, and a stainless window system. You don’t even realize how “played” the designs you are used to seeing are, until you see something so different. And, I didn’t realize that her designs were so diverse; this home looked nothing like the rounded, modern appearance of her civil work. Here are some of her other residential projects:


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Apartment Building, Chelsea, New York


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Private Residence, San Diego


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Interiors


I think the point to draw from the works that she left behind, is to create your own vision and implement it. It’s easy to play it safe, and just recreate what others have done, but to be remarkable you have to think differently. Obviously, what I am doing is not anywhere near as “outside the box” or in the realm of her work, but I would like to think that I try to do what looks good to me and not just what I see everywhere; so many designers just regurgitate tired designs. One of the main reasons I wanted to do development in Tennessee, was because I saw the same developers building the same thing over and over again, with no reflection of the changing population and demands of Nashville. The civic designers of Nashville are bringing some of the best features of the world’s cities here (check out how Nashville is constantly being shaped for the better: Civic Design Center). I hope I can help shape the new single family home space in Tennessee by meeting modern demands.


RIP, Zaha Hadid.










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