She’s got multiple Stirlings tucked under her belt, was the first gal to ever take home the coveted Pritzker Prize, and has graced global cityscapes from Guangzhou to Glasgow… She’s none other than the legendary Zaha Hadid.
Here, our five favourite landmarks in tribute to the late Queen of the Curve.
Galaxy Soho, Beijing
Living well and truly up to its moniker, Hadid’s neo-futuristic rendition of the siheyuan (trad Chinese courtyard) is a vast, spaceship complex composed of asymmetrical domes connected by bridges and plateaus inspired by rice terraces. As much an overt convo-starter as stylish space for a shop n’ flop.
7A Xiao Pai Fang Hutong, Dongcheng, Beijing. +86 400 815 9888, galaxysoho.sohochina.com
Fondazione MAXXI, Rome
A beacon of modernity in storied Roma, this contempo tour de force maxx-es out on breaking the museum-as-object-container mold, abandoning the distinction between outside and in with sinuous walls. Add an auditorium, library, bookshop, caff and plenty of open space = one-stop urban culture spot.
4A Via Guido Reni, Rome. +39 6 320 1954, fondazionemaxxi.it
Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Abu Dhabi
842 metres of serpentine steel serve as the gateway linking the UAE capital to the Gulf south shore. Designed to resemble undulating sand dunes, the Sheikh (dare we say chic) Zayed Bridge is especially ethereal by night, when vibrant LED lights flow over the arches. Eyes on the road!
Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Abu Dhabi
Guangzhou Opera House
Putting Zhujiang firmly on the culture map, the Guangzhou Opera House is the third largest theatre in China, a grand edifice seating 1,804. Equally wow-factor is of course the design itself, inspired by the natural landscape of river valleys. Has erosion ever been so striking?
1 Zhujiang Xi Lu, Tianhe, Guangzhou. +86 20 3839 2888, gzdjy.org
Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul
She’s a looker, but this avant-garde cultural hub also plays host to events from blockbuster exhibits to Seoul Fash Week, and is home to Korea’s largest art shop and 24hr design market. Psst… For spectacular nighttime views of the DDP, take tipples at The Griffin Bar at the JW Marriott.
281 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul. +82 2 2153 0000, ddp.or.kr
