Zaha M. Hadid Essay -- Art Architecture Papers

Zaha M. Hadid "Gravity-defying", "fragmentary" and "revolutionary" are a few of the words used to describe Zaha Hadid's architectural designs. The Iraqi-born, London-based architect has stirred up continual controversy with her designs that defy a label in the Modern vs. Post-Modern architectural debate. In the past 15 years, she has gone from unknown student to "architecture's new diva" as the title of the January 1996 Architectural DigestUs profile suggested. Her work has been accepted as a significant contribution to architecture and her style is one that other architects now emulate. These characteristics might serve to qualify her under Howard Gardner's definition of creativity. "The creative individual is a person who regularly solves problems, fashions products, or defines new questions in a domain in a way that is initially considered novel but that ultimately becomes accepted in a particular cultural setting." (Gardner 1993) Many issues that Gardner writes about in Creating Minds are relevant to a discussion of Hadid's career. By examining her creativity in the visual/spatial intelligence, I will attempt to conclude whether Gardner's model of multiple intelligence is relevant to the current era and domain of architecture in Zaha Hadid's case. CHILDHOOD Zaha Hadid was raised in a liberal, open-minded family which allowed her to explore new ways of doing things and think critically. She was born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1950 to aristocratic parents. Hadid's father played an important role in her creative development. He exposed her to many different cultures while always stressing the importance of her heritage. He demonstrated this through his studies at the London School of Economics and participation in the fight... ...). Architecture's Only Diva. Harper's Bazaar 125, 337, 190-225 Giovannini, Joseph. (1996). Architecture's New Diva Makes an International Scene Architectural Digest 53,1, 26-35 "Goodbye Theory, Hello Practice" (1997). Building Design Miller Freeman Publishing Company. 9/19/97, 20 Gowan, James ed. (1975) A Continuing Experiment: Learning and Teaching at the Architectural Association London: Architectural Press Hadid, Zaha M. (1995). [Interview with Yoshio Futagawa]. Global Architecture 03, 12-20 Levene, Richard and Fernando Marquez Cecilia. Interview with Zaha Hadid. El Croquis 52 Popham, Peter. (1996) A Model Architect: Zaha Hadid's Radical Plan for the Cardiff Opera House has Brought her International Fame. Why, then, has it been Rejected? The Independent (London). 2/11/96 Vine, Richard. (1995). Futuristic Baroque. Art in America 83, 7, 34-40