About Buildings + Cities 67 — Zaha Hadid — 2/4 — The Peak
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Apr 14, 2020 Andrew King, a Principal at Lemay Architects and a Professor at McGill University, shares his unique experiences from the late 1980s at Zaha Hadid's office. He provides a fascinating glimpse into Hadid's innovative design approach while discussing her iconic Peak Leisure Complex proposal in Hong Kong. The conversation delves into the evolution of deconstructivism and architecture's artistic manifestations, shedding light on how Hadid's philosophy redefined spatial relationships and challenged conventional norms, shaping contemporary architecture.
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Paintings Funded Early Practice
- Zaha Hadid's income partly came from selling paintings, blending art with architectural practice.
- Her office operated without computers, relying on precise, handcrafted ink on mylar drawings.
Challenges in Getting Projects Built
- Like many avant-garde architects then, Zaha faced frustration with projects that often did not get built.
- Technical challenges and project hiatuses were common, yet her reputation and influence grew regardless.
Rigor in Design and Drawing
- Zaha's design process centered on compositional rigor executed through ink on mylar, not loose sketches.
- The studio treated drawings as precious artworks, discussing program and form intensely during production.