London Aquatics Centre photo by Artur Salisz Flickr CC.

World renowned architect Zaha Hadid died of a sudden heart attack while being treated at Miami hospital. Defined by The Guardian as the Queen of the curves, the Iraqi-British visionary won countless awards and was the first woman to win with Pritzker prize – the equivalent to Nobel Prize for architecture – and the RIBA Stirling Price.

Heydar Aliyev Center, Baku – Photo by Hufton+Crow.

Born in Baghdad in 1950, Hadid graduated in 1972 at the Architectural Association in London and then worked at Rem Koolhaas’ OMA. In 1979 she established Zaha Hadid Architects in London.

Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien – Photo by Sebastian Deptula, Flick CC.

Among her most iconic design: the Kurfürstendamm in Berlin (1986), Vitra Fire Station in Weil Am Rhein, Germany (1993), MAXXI Italian National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome (2009), the London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympic Games (2011) and the Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku (2013).

“Working with office partner Patrik Schumacher, her interest was in the interface between architecture, landscape, and geology; which her practice integrates with the use of innovative technologies often resulting in unexpected and dynamic architectural forms” said in a statement at Zaha Hadid Architects

MAXXI, Rome – Photo by Maciek Lulko, Flickr CC.

Zaha Hadid’s work ranges from skyscrapers to furniture, from fashion to interior design and even super yachts. In an interview with Designboom the architect explains her singular approach and creative vision.

Furniture and interiors for the “Form in Motion” exhibition – Forgemind ArchiMedia Flickr CC.

“In terms of form, all the projects interest me equally, although there are obviously large differences according to the scale and process of each project. The idea for a building or an object can come up just as quick, but there is a big difference in process” Said Hadid to Designboom

VorteXX by Zaha Hadid for Zumtobel – Courtesy of Design Days Dubai.

“They all come out from the same thing; all the projects are connected somehow. There is the perception of architecture is different because it is a more immersive experience – it’s about is how the person places herself in the space – whereas fashion is about how you place the object on the person”.

Vitra Firestation – Photo by Ciro Miguel, Flikr CC.

Watch the Making of Nova shoes for United Nude – Video via Dezeen.

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“Her spirit will live on in her work and studio. Our hearts go out” said Daniel Libeskind. Jane Duncan, RIBA’s president, said to The Guardian “Dame Zaha Hadid was an inspirational woman, and the kind of architect one can only dream of being. Visionary and highly experimental, her legacy, despite her young age, is formidable”.

DDP, Seoul – Photo by Virgile Simon Bertrand.

Richard Rogers, whose buildings include the Pompidou Centre and the Millennium Dome, told The Guardian that the news of Hadid’s death was “really, really terrible […] No one had any more impact than she did. She fought her way through as a woman”.

Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien – Photo by Tim Wang, Flick CC.

Zaha Hadid’s awards include the Republic of France’s Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, Japan’s Praemium Imperiale and in 2012, Zaha Hadid was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.  She was made Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and Fellow of the American Institute of Architecture.

Pierres Vives – Photo by Verqotin, Flickr CC.

Messner Mountain Museum Corones – Ph. Inexhibit.

“Liquid Glacial” table by Zaha Hadid, David Gill – Courtesy of Design Days Dubai.