Zaha Hadid's Architecture of Form

Zaha Hadid’s

Architecture of Form

AmatAlraof AbdUllah AbdAlwahid

Under the supervision

Associate Prof. Ismail Bin Said &

Dr. Dilshan Remaz Ossen

Surfers Paradise Transit Center Site

Queensland, Australia (2007)

2

The Outline

1) Introduction

2) Literature Review

3) Research Methodology

4) The results & findings

5) Conclusion

Introduction

3

Kartal-Pendik Master plan Istanbul, Turkey (2006)

5) Peter Eisenman

6) Bernard Tschumi

7) Daniel Libeskind

2) Zaha Hadid

1) Rem Koolhas

3) Frank Gehry

4) Coop Himm-

elblau

Russian

Constructivism

Suprematism

German

post-Expressionism

Deconstructivism

Non-Derridean Architects Derridean Architects

USA Post-Structuralism

in nature

Derrida

Philosophy of

deconstruction

4

Hadid is considered as the most

imaginative architect among her

colleagues based on

1) The number of projects she has designed (950 projects )- 80 completed

2) The number of prizes she got (93 prizes)

3) The richness of various concepts she conducts

Heydar Aliyev Culture Centre

Baku, Azerbaijan (2007-12) 5

A planet in her own

orbit

Iraqi architect

Born in 1950

Study background

1) Mathematics in Beirut

2) Architecture in AA, School of Architecture,

London

Started her own business in 1980

Problem Statements

1) Considerable number of architects, architectural

students*, and fashion or furniture designers around

the world who admire her works usually find

difficulties to understand her designs.

2) The misconception among architects about Hadid’s

projects. Many think that her designs are merely

artistic works, fashion and formal whim.

* Fan Ling,an architecture teacher at Beijing‘s Central Academy of Fine Arts, the most influential international architect in China

(Platt, 2012). 7

Aim of Study

To examine the pushed boundaries by Hadid in design

and study the underlying causes of her projects’

uniqueness, inspirations, the radical concepts and her

strategy of design

8

There are many studies have been done in the architectural works

of famous architects such as

Le Corbusier An Analysis of Form (1996)

Meis Van Der Rohe Form follows function (2006)

Frank Lloyd wright Organic Architecture and Frank Lloyd

wright In Turkey (2006)

Frank Lloyd wright to 1910 (1958)

& other Precedents in Modernist Architecture

Zaha Hadid --------------------------- ( ---- )

Research Gap

9

Research Objectives

1) To find out Zaha Hadid’ strategy of design, as well the inspiring notions;

2) To identify Hadid techniques in designing the architectural form;

3) To investigate whether there are any patterns of form through Hadid works; and

4) To investigate the architectural design principles of the form broken by Hadid and the considered ones

10

Research Questions

1) What is Zaha Hadid’ strategy of design?

2) What are the inspiring clues for Hadid to conduct such architecture?

3) What are Hadid techniques in designing form?

4) Are there any patterns through Hadid works?

5) What are the design principles of the architectural form ignored by

Hadid?

6) What are the architectural design principles of form considered by Hadid?

11

Significance of the Study

It lies in the findings that exposes some obscured

issues about Hadid’s architecture and clarify the

nature of Hadid deconstructivist forms. This will

1) Take out student’s fears if asked to design in her manner

2) Encourage architects to release their potential talent to

be exposed into touchable works result in creating a variety in their produced works create a diversity in the general view of the city

12

Literature

Review

13 Abu Dhabi Performing Arts Centre, Abu Dhabi (2008)

Architectural Form

Deconstructivism

Suprematism Parametricism

Ching, 1996; Norberg, 1980; Baker, 1989; Schumacher, 2012; Le

Corbusier, 1986; Arnheim, 1974; Gelernter, 1995; Wong , 2009;

Robertson, 1924; Zunde and Bougdah, 2006; Sonmez, 2006;

Kamarudin, 2011; Pause and Clark, 2005; Kulic, 2001;

Schumacher, 2009; Zhou, 2011; Kornberger and Clegg, 2004;

Durmus and Gur, 2011; Patin, 1993; Krishan, 1998; Los, 1998;

Salingaros & Masden, 2007; Bittar, 2010; Carlson, 1986;

Douglass, 2008; Evans, 1975; Hewitt, 1985; Judelman, 2004;

Kamel; Mohassel, 2008; Rudolf, 1977; Bittar, 2007; Cowan,

1979

Schumacher, 2004; 2008; 2008; 2009; 2009; 2010;

2012; Futagawa, 2010; Leach, 2009; Yuan and Yi,

2012

D’Apuzzo, 2011; Glancey, 2006; Mertins, 2006; Kauw, 1998;

Aiello, 2005; Bowlt, 1976; Dezeen, 2010; Crowther and

Wünsche, 2012; Belogolovsky, 2008; Ruddley, 1970; Railing,

1995; Elliott, 2006; Arnheim, 1954; Cooke, 1995; Didero, 2012;

Woods, 2008

Wigley, 1993; 1989 ; Hattenstone, 2010; Mertins,

2006; Marjanović, 2010; Salama, 2007; Straeten,

1997; Hadid, 2006; Didero, 2012; Bowlt, 1976;

Eisenman, 1984; Mclead, 1989; Reid, 2009; Patin,

1993; Wong, 2010; Aref, 2011; Saadullah, 2010;

Kosiński, 2010; Lloyd, 1997; Butelski, 2001;

Gyurkovich; Garnitz, 2004; Guy, 2011; Khan, 2010;

Gomez, 2008; Powell, 2006; Salingaros & Alexander,

2005; Mattingly, 1999; Lewis, 2001

Definition, Resources, Patterns, Principles,

Techniques, Strategy of design

Definition, Background & it roots

Development, laws, Characteristics

Definition, Background & it roots

Principles, Techniques

Definition, Properties, Background &

it roots, Classifications, Resources

Principles, Techniques

Literature Review

14

Study Authors Method Tools Data

The text of free-form

architecture:

Joseph F.

Wong,(2009)

Article

Qualitative study ,

Grounded theory,

content analysis

Interviews Four pioneer

architects

“Organic

Architecture” and

Frank Lloyd Wright in

Turkey

FİLİZ SÖNMEZ

(2006)

Thesis

Qualitative study

Content analysis,

comparative analytical

study

Interviews,

survey

Vernacular, local

and

contemporary

samples

Le Corbusier : an

Analysis of Form

Baker (1996)

Book

Qualitative Study

Analytical study

Sketches

Interview &

text, Drawings

photographs

Sixsteen projects

Zaha Hadid: The

Female Modernist of

the Twenty-first

Century

Leslie Elaine

Reid (2009),

Thesis

Qualitative study, case

study

Content analysis

Interviews,

Site survey

One project:

Center of

Contemporary

Art in New York

The Uncanny and the

Architecture of

Deconstruction

Straeten

(1997)

Article

Qualitative study,

Analytical study

Drawing &

architects

words

Four

contemporary

architects

Study Auther Method Tools Data

An Indigenous model

for 21st Century

“green architecture”

Samra M.

Khan

Article

Qualitative Study

Case study

Survey

Interviews

Photographs

& sketches

Allah Buksh

Sethi haveli

building

From Constructivism

to

Deconstructivism

Gladys

Brenner

(1985)

Thesis

Qualitative study

Descriptive &

Analytical study

Photographs

& drawing

Four

architectural

styles

Precedents in

Architecture

Clark & Pause

(2005)

Book

Qualitative study

Analytical study

Drawings

Plan, section

facade

64 projects

16 famous

architects

Replicant urbanism:

the architecture of

Douglas

Spencer

(2010)

Article

Qualitative Study

Case study

Analytical study

Drawings

Survey

Photographs

Hadid's

Central

Building at

BMW, Leipzig

Architecture Form,

Space, Order

Ching (1996)

Book

Qualitative Study

Analytical study

Drawings Many

illustrative

projects

Research

Methodology 17

Stone Towers, Cairo, Egypt (2008)

Study Area:

Hadid’s architectural forms; it covers her architectural

works since 1975 – 2012, 208 projects in 44countries

through the world

Data collection:

All accessible projects in Books ,the series books of

Zaha Hadid, Journals, Magazines, her official website

& her interviews in Youtube and other official website.

18

N

o

Objective Method Data Study, Author/Year

1. Zaha Hadid strategy of

design & the inspiring

notions

Qualitative study: Content

analysis with representing design

knowledge in diagrams

Hadid views,

comments, feedback,

thoughts in interviews

Architectural Research Methods, Groat & Wang

(2002)

2. Hadid Techniques Qualitative study: Content

analysis Hadid interviews Architectural Research Methods, Groat & Wang

(2002)

Qualitative study: Analytical study

& descriptive study

Projects photos, their

Descriptions

Le Corbusier : an Analysis of Form, Baker

(1996)

3. The Architectural Form Patterns of Zaha Hadid

1) Form pattern Qualitative study: Content

analysis & Analytical study for her

projects

Hadid words &

projects feature

through photos

Architectural Research Methods; Groat & Wang

(2002)

2) Patterns shared

Characteristics

Descriptive analysis to find out

common features

Projects photos Precedents in Architecture Clark & Pause (2005)

3) Patterns occurrences

and percentage

Quantitative study: Analytical

study

Hadid words

Projects photos

Academic Report Writing Norazman (2007)

4) The formative

Relationship Between

Plan and Elevation


based on drawings

Drawings ( plans,

sections, elevations)

Precedents in Architecture

Clark & Pause (2005)

4. The Used and ignored

principles in Designing

Architectural Form

Qualitative study: A descriptive

study of architectural form

principles

Projects photographs

and drawing

Integrated Strategies in Architecture, Zunde &

Bougdah (2006); Precedents in Architecture,


Qualitative study: Analytical study Architecture Form, Space, Order, Ching (1996) 19

Content Analysis for Zaha Hadid’s Interviews

Interviews Videos

From different websites

Texts & Transcripts

From books, magazines &

websites

Highlight all related information

Categorize this information under metaphors

representing different themes

Collect all Hadid’s words and phrases under

one theme (clustering)

Partitioning variables

Noting relationship between variables

e.g. the affection of Hadid’s strategy of design

on the final form

Subsuming details into general &

collect them into fine writing

The Themes are:

Hadid Techniques

Form notion

Hadid’s strategy of design

Organizational Techniques

Underlie reasons of Hadid’s

innovation

20

Zaha Hadid’s Form Patterns

Zaha Hadid’s Form

Patterns

Hadid’s Books,

Articles & Video

Form notion

from Hadid’s words

Repetitive Features which

are categorized under

Different Form’s

Patterns

Pattern 3 Pattern 4 Pattern 5 Pattern 2 Pattern 1

Project’s Images

Form’s Prevailing

Characteristics

21

Quantitative Analysing of Hadid Patterns

The categorization is based on Hadid description to form notion and the

prevailing characteristics of project’s form.

Project’s

name

Location Year of

design

Function Prevailing

characteristics of

The form

Form

Notion’s

kind

Notes

1-Malevich’s

tektonik

London 1967-

1977

hotel Suprematist:

Malevich’s

Tektonik

suprematist Her

Graduation

project

2-

3-

.

.

208-

22

General Characteristics of the Projects Under one Form

Pattern ; suprematist form

Project Notion of the form Function

General

characteristics

Project 1

Figure 4.59 The Peak

Hong Kong (1982-83).

Source@ http://www.zaha-hadid.com

Figure 4.59 shows the Peak

project in Hong Kong. Its

notion is relatively a mixture of

the suprematist geology, gravity

defying and fragmentation

(Hadid, 2009).

The Peak

consists of

1.Spa, Club

(library, snack

bar, exercise

platform)

2.Penthouse

3.Apartments

1. The four projects consist

of abstract and

fundamental geometric

forms that are

harmonically similar to

each other.

2. They are characterized by

defying gravity and

elevating the ground.

3. They have the impression

of fragmentation.

4. They are perceived as

prospective masses of

three points.

Project 2

Project 3

Project 4

23

Purpose No Sampling Items

Numerous Interviews, Hadid’s

words in descripting

project’s notion

The Accessible interviews

208 projects The Accessible projects

20 projects The project that:

• Purely symbolize the pattern

• The most creative and

artistic

• Designed in different stages

of her career journey&

represent different kinds of

function

4 projects

for Pattern 1

4 projects

for Pattern 5 4 4

4

1 1 1 1 1

5 projects Being restricted by the

availability of information

Identifying Form’s patterns

Patterns occurrence

Percentage of each pattern

The common characteristics of

each pattern

Examining the matching

Form principles to her works

The formative relationship between

plan and section or elevation

Sampling Procedures

24

The Results & Findings

25

Beko Masterplan. Belgrade, Serbia (2012)

Intense research

Form notion

Functions in zones

Applying Hadid

techniques

Circulation Function&

Natural Lighting

Embedded-ness with

the context

Other supplement & Interior

design

Final form

Zaha Hadid Strategy

of Design

site

nature

environment

neighborhoods

function of the project

the political and the social history

of the city

climate

connection& circulation

orientation

imitating natural forms

site topography

landscaping of the

surrounding context

Art

site

nature

architecture

computing programs

Objective 1

26

Objective 2: Zaha Hadid Techniques in Design

27

Zaha Hadid Techniques in Design

Beko Masterplan. Belgrade, Serbia (2012) Pierres Vives, Montpellier, France (2002-12)

Kusnacht Villa, Zurich, Switzerland (2006) 28

Mobile Art Pavilion For Chanel, Hong Kong, China (2007-08)

The Habitable Bridge

London, Britain (1996)

Museum for the Royal Collection

Madrid,Spain(1999) 29

Sub-Techniques

1) The formative relationship between

plan and elevation or section

2) Reflecting project’s form in the

interior design of space

30

Regium Waterfront

Reggio, Italy(2007)

Vilnius Museum

Vilnius, Lithuania (2007)

Heydar Aliyev Culture Centre Baku

Azerbaijan (2007-12)

The Formative Relationship Between Plan and Elevation or Section

Analogous relationship between some configurative peripheral lines

Analogous relationship between the configurative peripheral lines

Proportional & Inverse relationship between the configurative curvy lines

31

Maxxi: National

Museum of XXI

Century Art- site

Rome, Italy (2009)

Maggie's Centre Fife in Kirkcaldy, Scotland (2001-6)

Reflecting Project’s Form in the Interior

Design of Space

32

(2) Topographic pattern

Heydar Aliyev Culture Centre

Baku, Azerbaijan (2007-12)

(3) Fluid pattern

Cairo Expo City: Cairo, Egypt (2009)

(1) Suprematist pattern

The Peak : Hong Kong (1982-83)

(4) Organic pattern

Regium Waterfront Reggio, Italy(2007)

(5) Parametric pattern

Vilnius Museum, Vilnius, Lithuania (2007)

Objective 3: Zaha Hadid’s Patterns of Form

33

The Characteristics of Form’s Patterns

Suprematist Topographic Fluid

Organic

Parametric

Forms of this pattern

characterized by:

1) Using

fundamental

geometric forms.

2) Utilizing analogous

forms .

3) Defying gravity

4) Abstraction

5) Fragmentation

6) Conceiving masses

in prospective of

three points.

7) Manipulating the

ground of different

floors.


1) Are inspired from the

natural landscape

formation; the surface

outline of the earth

2) Fade to join the earth

giving the sense of

affiliation

3) Have seamless and

fluid surfaces

4) Have the features of

withdrawing.

5) Lighting slots

smoothly design in

parallel to project’s

form


characterized by:

1) Having watery,

amorphous (formless)

surfaces; the fluid of

Arabic calligraphy

2) Gradually faded to join

the earth.

3) Continuous curved

surfaces

4) Having kinetic interior

designs that could serve as

multipurpose and multifunctional

spaces.

5) Rarely using corner and

orthogonal angle

6) Windows and entrances

take the same fluid form

of the masses.


1) Inspired from

nature such as

animals or plants

2) Have irregular

surfaces and often

asymmetrical

3) Have fluid,

seamless, and

curvy surfaces

4) Intimately merged

within the context

and site because

of the familiarity

of their notions

with the site.


characterized by:

1) Parametrically

flexible which

differentiate

progressively to

meet all the

requirements

2) Having fluid,

compressed,

torsional, and

twisted forms.

3) Responsive to

environment

4) Some have a

reticular, perforated

skin.

34

Sunrise Tower

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2009)

35

Hadid Patterns of Form

The Mixed Form Patterns

The study covers 208 accessible

projects which constitute 22% of her

designs

The Occurrence of Patterns Through

Years

Objective 4: The Used and Ignored Architectural

Form Principles by Hadid

Ignored Principles

Symmetry

Simple Addition and Subtraction

Embellishment & Decoration

Stable Ground

Rhythm

Used Principles

Balance: Asymmetry

Unity

Scale except the main space

38

39

Changsha Meixihu International Culture and Art Center,

Hunan, China (2013)

Conclusions

Conclusions

1) The contribution of this thesis underlies the comprehensive

clarification of Hadid’s architectural form.

2) The uniqueness of Hadid works underlies the concept of

contradiction in both the used techniques and form principles.

3) Her strategy of design indicates that Hadid perceives

architecture as an art.

4) The sequence emergence of Hadid patterns refers to her desire

to catch up with what is new.

Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Abu Dhabi (1997) 40

Suggestions for Further Studies

1) The language of translating project notion through form, space and circulation;

make it acting vividly.

2) To explore the sustainability of Hadid’s Architecture.

3) Hadid sketches and their effective role in determining the final form.

4) Hadids contribution in changing the general conception of

Architectural space.

41

Thank You for Your Attention

aha Hadid

43

44

Scope of the study

MODERNISM

Styles : international style, neo modernism, deconstructivism, futurism, expressionism, constructivism,

DECONSTRUCTIVISM

Architects: Coop Himmelblau, Peter Eisenman, Frank Gehry, Zaha M. Hadid, Rem Koolhaas, Daniel Libeskind, and Bernard Tschumi.

Zaha M. Hadid

Architectural

elements: space, form, structure, function, interior design, …etc

Scope is Zaha hadid architectural form : 1) Strategy of design 2) Techniques

3) Patterns 4) principles

University of Bradford

Research Type

Exploratory research

Descriptive research

Analytical research

Purpose Used when few or no previous studies exist. Its aim is to look for patterns, hypotheses or ideas that can be tested and will form the basis for further research.

identify the characteristics of Hadid’s form patterns

How she could generate such creative forms; stating the different ways of techniques application

Technique Content analysis for interview Which could be categorized under basic or pure research.

Collect, analyse photos & summarize data.

analyse variables

46

Some of Zaha Hadid’s Description Words for Project’s Form

Notion

Malevich Tektonic Explosion Seamlessness Flower petal Complex Suprematist geology Cellular structure Curve Slicing Glacial topography Islamic Calligraphy Defying nature Diamond Shell Inverted necklace Fragment Bubbles Water movement Geometries Contradiction Kinetic Canvas Tree trunk Canyon Parametric Ever-changing Oyster Collision Mushroom columns Fabrication Abstraction Flow Cutting Art box Splintered Interwoven (p. 109) Overlapping lines Scattering Multi-purpose Topography Contours Landscape Biological analogy (branches, stems, fruits, and leaves) Coral Piercing Petra Mountain Sand Dunes Dynamic Pushing boundaries Landscape carpet Lava flow Ice formation, glacial Jewel Organic Mountain ranges Deconstruction Spiralling shapes in nature Archaeology Plastic Movement Shattering Segments Iteration of L-shape Elasticity Folding Ribbons Starfish Spine Smooth Fold Exasperation Bundles Undulating Twisting Wrapping River’s curvature Aggregation Organic System grid Intense Accumulation Swarm Rock Nude structure Digital design technology Weightlessness, freedom Sloped Wrap Float, suspend Boulder Malleable Crystal Fluid Layering Free-form Flexibility Suprematist Capsizing Dynamic Broken ice & Flame of fire Tatlin tower Wave Distortion Dynamic Distorted grid Inscription Sculpture Painting Interlock Bend Trapezoid, wedge, spiral Arc Spiral Shooting Erosion Triangulated roof Pixilation

47

Suprematist / Deconstructivist

Form

Fluid Form

Topographic Form

Organic Form

Parametric

Form

Malevich

Tektonic

Geometries

Bundles

Piercing

Tatlin tower

System grid

Twisting

Shooting

Cutting

Weightlessness,

freedom

Float, suspend

Explosion

Suprematist

geology

Slicing

Defying nature

Inverted

necklace

Painting

Interlock

Exasperation

Collision

Nude structure

Abstraction

Distortion

Layering

Free-form

Distorted grid

Art box

Folding

Intense

Accumulation

Swarm

Triangulated roof

Ribbons

Splintered

Interwoven

Overlapping lines

Shattering

Segments

Iteration of L-

shape

Trapezoid, wedge,

spiral

Wrapping

Broken ice &

Flame of fire

Spiral

Scattering

Capsizing

Dynamic

Pushing

boundaries

Fragment

Contradiction

Canvas

Aggregation

Curve

Islamic Calligraphy

Fluid

Flexibility

Dynamic

Flow

Wave

Bend

Ever-changing

Seamlessness

Bubbles

Water movement

Complex

Arc

Ice formation

Glacial movement

Kinetic

Fold

Undulating

Multi-purpose

River’s curvature

fading

Inscription

Topography

Contours

Landscape

Sloped

Wrap

Petra Mountain

Sand Dunes

Landscape carpet

Glacial topography

Lava flow

Canyon

Mountain ranges

Archaeology

Organic

Flower petal

Diamond

Shell

Starfish

Rock

Biological analogy

(branches, stems,

fruits, and leaves)

Organic

Spiraling shapes in

nature

Boulder

Tree trunk

Oyster

Coral

Jewel

Mushroom

columns

Crystal

Cellular structure

Plastic

Malleable

Sculpture

Digital design

Technology

Fabrication

Elasticity

Spine

Dynamic

Parametric

Smooth

Pixilation

48

Methodology of the Research No Objective Study, Author/Year

Data Method

1. 1) Hadid Techniques as headlines

2) Form notion

3) Underlie reasons of Hadid’s

innovation

Architectural Research Methods, Groat &

Wang (2002)

Hadid views,

comments, feedback,


conducted by others

Qualitative study: Content analysis

2. Zaha Hadid strategy of design Qualitative study: Content analysis with

representing design knowledge in diagrams

3. Hadid Techniques Le Corbusier : an Analysis of Form,

Baker (1996)

Hadid words in

interviews & descripting

Projects as well photos

Qualitative study: Analytical study &

descriptive study

4. Form pattern Architectural Research Methods; Groat &

Wang (2002); Precedents in Architecture


Hadid words Qualitative study: Content analysis &

Analytical study for her projects 1) Patterns shared Characteristics Projects photos

2) Patterns occurrences and

percentage

Academic Report Writing Norazman

(2007)

Hadid words

Projects photos

Quantitative study: Analytical study

3) The Used and ignored principles in

Designing Architectural Form

Integrated Strategies in Architecture,

Zunde & Bougdah (2006); Precedents in

Architecture, Clark & Pause (2005)


and drawing

Qualitative study: A descriptive study of

architectural form principles

Architecture Form, Space, Order, Ching

(1996)


4) The formative Relationship

Between Plan and Elevation



Drawings ( plans,


Qualitative study: Analytical study based

on drawings

49

No Objective Study, Author/Year

Data Method

1. Zaha Hadid strategy of

design & the inspiring notions

Architectural Research Methods, Groat &

Wang (2002)

Hadid views,

comments, feedback,


Qualitative study: Content analysis

with representing design knowledge in

diagrams

2. Hadid Techniques Architectural Research Methods, Groat &

Wang (2002)

Hadid interviews Qualitative study: Content analysis

Le Corbusier : an Analysis of Form, Baker

(1996)

Descripting Projects,

photos

Qualitative study: Analytical study &

descriptive study

3. The Architectural Form Patterns of Zaha Hadid

1) Form pattern Architectural Research Methods; Groat &

Wang (2002)

Hadid words &

projects feature

Qualitative study: Content analysis &

Analytical study for her projects

2) Patterns shared

Characteristics

Precedents in Architecture Clark & Pause

(2005)

Projects photos Descriptive analysis to find out

common features

3) Patterns occurrences and

percentage

Academic Report Writing Norazman

(2007)

Hadid words

Projects photos

Quantitative study: Analytical study

4) The formative Relationship

Between Plan and Elevation



Drawings ( plans,



based on drawings

4. The Used and ignored

principles in Designing

Architectural Form

Integrated Strategies in Architecture,

Zunde & Bougdah (2006); Precedents in

Architecture, Clark & Pause (2005)


and drawing

Qualitative study: A descriptive study

of architectural form principles

Architecture Form, Space, Order, Ching

(1996)


50

Documents

Zaha Hadid's Architecture of Form