Key facts about Zaha Hadid
Dame Zaha Mohammad Hadid was a British-Iraqi architect, designer and artist. She was born in 1950 in Baghdad, Iraq and died in 2016.
An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings or other large structures.
Hadid was known as an architect who always pushed the boundaries of what architecture and design could be.
Many of her buildings were inspired by curves and lines found in nature.
When Zaha Hadid was asked to design a building she would research the local area carefully before designing it.
She then used drawings and sketches to express her ideas before beginning the final designs.
In 2004, she became the first woman to be given the Pritzker Architecture Prize - one of the world's leading architecture awards.
Watch: Who was Zaha Hadid?
Find out more about the life and work of Zaha Hadid
Narrator: Zaha Hadid was born in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1950.
On journeys near her home she was inspired by the incredible shapes of the ancient Sumerian architecture.
She then moved to London in 1972 to become an architect, someone who designs buildings.
Zaha's building designs were often inspired by abstract art.
Her designs linked flowing curves with shapes you wouldn't normally see on a building and were very modern and unique.
Zaha created drawings and paintings on canvas and paper to develop her ideas.
But some people thought that they could not be built because they would be too expensive and very complicated.
Zaha didn't give up and eventually people started to understand her inspiring designs and how they could be made into buildings.
Her designs have now been built in many parts of the world.
By being a woman in a job that was mostly done by men at the time, Zaha Hadid inspired other women to become designers.
Watch: Introduction to architecture
Joey: I'm standing in front of an awesome building, Titanic Belfast!
And check out its shape, it looks like the front of a ship and I love all of the shiny surfaces and reflections!
I think it's an incredible piece of architecture!
Can you think of any buildings that you like? Maybe you have a favourite building near to where you live or you may know of some other interesting buildings around the world.
All these buildings started off as ideas, then sketches and designs on paper.
Architects are trained to make very technical drawings as well as initial sketches.
Imagine all the different things the architect has to think about when they design a building.
Who is going to use the building? What size should it be? What materials can it be built with?
All those decisions have to be carefully thought about to make the building not only look right, but also to function, or work properly.
Why don't you start exploring and sketching the architecture in your area?
You could even have a go at designing a building yourself! What will it be and how will it look!
Zaha Hadid's architecture
Image caption, This is the London Aquatics Centre in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, designed by Zaha Hadid in 2004. The building was inspired by moving water so it fits in well with the venue's location next to a river. Anyone can visit and swim inside the building now, even though it was built for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
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Activity - spot the Zaha Hadid design
Activity - design your own building
Why not have a go at designing a building yourself?
You could select a place and purpose for your building and create some sketches before creating your final design.
You could even add your own unique style to your design, like Zaha Hadid.
Quiz
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