Zaha Hadid (1950–2016) was an Iraqi-British architect and the first woman to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize (2004), celebrated for sweeping curves, fragmented geometry, and buildings that seem to defy gravity. From the Vitra Fire Station that launched her built career to the Heydar Aliyev Centre and London Aquatics Centre, the “Queen of the Curve” changed what architecture could look like. The 30 projects below define the radical formal language that made Zaha Hadid Architects a global force.
Zaha Hadid’s Famous Works at a Glance
| Project | Location | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Heydar Aliyev Centre | Baku, Azerbaijan | 2012 |
| Vitra Fire Station | Weil am Rhein, Germany | 1993 |
| London Aquatics Centre | London, UK | 2011 |
| MAXXI Museum of XXI Century Arts | Rome, Italy | 2010 |
| Guangzhou Opera House | Guangzhou, China | 2010 |
| Phaeno Science Centre | Wolfsburg, Germany | 2005 |
| Contemporary Arts Center | Cincinnati, USA | 2003 |
| Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum | East Lansing, USA | 2012 |
| Nuragic and Contemporary Art Museum | Cagliari, Italy | 2006 (design) |
| Glasgow Riverside Museum of Transport | Glasgow, UK | 2011 |
| Zaragoza Bridge Pavilion | Zaragoza, Spain | 2008 |
| BMW Central Building | Leipzig, Germany | 2005 |
| One Thousand Museum | Miami, USA | 2019 |
| Ordrupgaard Museum Extension | Copenhagen, Denmark | 2005 |
| Wangjing SOHO | Beijing, China | 2014 |
| CMA CGM Headquarters | Marseille, France | 2011 |
| Messner Mountain Museum Corones | Plan de Corones, Italy | 2015 |
| King Abdullah Financial District Metro Station | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 2024 |
| Abu Dhabi Performing Arts Centre | Abu Dhabi, UAE | 2007 (design) |
| Maggie’s Centre Fife | Kirkcaldy, Scotland | 2006 |
| Bergisel Ski Jump | Innsbruck, Austria | 2002 |
| Al Janoub Stadium | Al Wakrah, Qatar | 2019 |
| Library and Learning Centre, WU Vienna | Vienna, Austria | 2013 |
| Serpentine Sackler Gallery | London, UK | 2013 |
| Mandarin Oriental, 600 Collins Street | Melbourne, Australia | 2017 (design) |
| Sheikh Zayed Bridge | Abu Dhabi, UAE | 2010 |
| Port House | Antwerp, Belgium | 2016 |
| Jockey Club Innovation Tower | Hong Kong, China | 2014 |
| Leeza SOHO | Beijing, China | 2019 |
| Evelyn Grace Academy | London, UK | 2010 |
Zaha Hadid was an Iraqi-British Architect who was the first woman to be awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Her style was intensely futuristic architecture characterized by curving facades, sharp angles, and using materials such as concrete and steel. She took the strongest materials in the world and manipulated them to form objects that appeared soft and sturdy at the same time. Her buildings are eye-catching and have a unique shape, style and quality, making the structure iconic.
This list represents Zaha Hadid’s 30 projects that define her unique style and make her one of the most famous Architects today:
1. Heydar Aliyev Centre, Azerbaijan | Zaha Hadid
Year: 2012
Type: Cultural Centre
Location: Baku, Azerbaijan
2. Vitra Fire Station, Germany
Year: 1993
Type: Public Building
Location: Weil am Rhein, Germany
3. London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Summer Olympics, UK | Zaha Hadid
Year: 2011
Type: Swimming Pool
Location: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, E20, United Kingdom
4. MAXXI: Museum of XXI Century Arts, Italy
Year: 2009
Type: Art Centre
Location: Rome, Italy
5. Guangzhou Opera House, China | Zaha Hadid
Year: TBD
Type: Museum
Location: Guangzhou, China
6. Phaeno Science Centre, Germany
Year: 2005
Type: Science Centre
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
7. Contemporary Arts Center, USA
Year: 2003
Type: Art Centre
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
8. Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum, USA | Zaha Hadid
Year: 2012
Type: Museum
Location: East Lansing, USA
9. Nuragic and Contemporary Art Museum, Italy
Year: TBC
Type: Museum
Location: Cagliari, Italy
10. Glasgow Riverside Museum of Transport
Year: 2011
Type: Museum
Location: Glasgow, UK
11. Zaragoza Bridge Pavilion, Spain | Zaha Hadid
Year: 2008
Type: Pavilion
Location: Zaragoza, Spain
12. BMW Central Building, Germany
Year: 2005
Type: Office
Location: Leipzig, Germany
13. One Thousand Museum, US
Year: 2019
Type: Residential
Location: 1000 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida, United States
14. Ordrupgaard Museum Extension, Denmark
Year: 2005
Type: Museum
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
15. Wangjing SOHO, China | Zaha Hadid
Year: 2014
Type: Mixed-use
Location: Beijing, China
16. CMA CGM Headquarter, France
Year: 2010
Type: Office
Location: Marseille, France
17. Messner Mountain Museum Corones, Italy
Year: 2015
Type: Museum
Location: Kronplatz Mountain, Italy
18. King Abdullah Financial District Metro Station, Saudi Arabia | Zaha Hadid
Year: 2020
Type: Transport & Infrastructure
Location: Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
19. Abu Dhabi Performing Arts Centre, UAE
Year: Under Construction
Type: Art Centre
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
20. Maggie’s Centre Fife, Scotland
Year: 2006
Type: Private
Location: Kirkaldy, Fife, Scotland
21. Bergisel Ski Jump, Austria | Zaha Hadid
Year: 2002
Type: Public Building
Location: Innsbruck, Austria
22. Al Janoub Stadium, Qatar
Year: 2019
Type: Sports
Location: Qatar
23. Library and Learning Centre University of Economics Vienna, Austria
Year: 2013
Type: University
Location: Vienna, Austria
24. The Serpentine Gallery, UK
Year: 2013
Type: Gallery
Location:29 Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AS, UK
25. Mandarin Oriental, 600 Collins Street, Melbourne | Zaha Hadid
Type: Mixed-use
Location: Melbourne, Australia
26. Sheikh Zayed Bridge, UAE
Year: 2010
Type: Bridge
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
27. Port House, Belgium
Year: 2016
Type: Public Building
Location: Antwerp, Belgium
28. Jockey Club Innovation Tower, China
Year: 2014
Type: University
Location:Hongkong, China
29. Leeza SOHO, China
Year: 2019
Type: Mixed-use
Location: Beijing, China
30. Evelyn Grace Academy, UK | Zaha Hadid
Year: 2010
Type: University
Location: London, UK
