A look back at the eye-popping architecture of Zaha Hadid
Haydn Watters | CBC News | Posted: March 31, 2016 10:01 PM | Last Updated: March 31, 2016
Renowned Iraqi-British architect died Thursday at age 65
Groundbreaking Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid died suddenly on Thursday at 65. She was the first woman and first Muslim to ever win the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize, back in 2004.
Hadid's innovative buildings graced skylines around the world. Here's a look at some of her most compelling designs.
Aquatics Centre (London, England)
The aquatic centre is one of Hadid's best-known buildings. The centre was one of the main venues used in 2012 when London hosted the Summer Olympics.
It has since become a public swimming pool — the British newspaper the Guardian called it "the most jaw-dropping municipal swimming pool in the world."
Galaxy Soho (Beijing)
Hadid's massive office and shopping mall complex was a controversial addition to the Beijing landscape in 2012.
Heritage protection groups slammed the architecture for destroying the streetscape and encroaching on the city's heritage.
Serpentine Sackler Gallery (London, England)
Hadid designed the redeveloped the gallery located in London's Hyde Park. It opened in 2013.
She has a history with the gallery. In 2000, she was the first architect to design a temporary pavilion as part of its famed summer pavilion series.
MAXXI Museum (Rome)
In a city full of ancient art, this Hadid-designed museum was a welcome addition — it was Italy's first national museum of contemporary art. The project took over 10 years to complete and opened in 2010.
Bridge Pavilion (Zaragoza, Spain)
Hadid designed the pavilion as part of Zaragoza's Expo in 2008. During the expo, the pavilion served as a connecting link to the fairgrounds on the other side of the Ebro River and also housed an exhibit on water.
Riverside Museum (Glasgow)
Hadid's transportation museum was one of the major components of the regeneration of the Glasgow harbour. The museum opened in 2011 and was chosen European museum of the year in 2013.