famed architect Zaha Hadid, known for the buildings she created worldwide and her academic studies, was honored with the Royal Gold Medal handed out by United Kingdom Architecture Institute (RIBA) to reward lifetime success.
Zaha founded (FAIA honorary member) Hadid Architects, who have created dynamic and innovative projects through her thirty-year professional career, conducting significant research in the fields of architecture, design and urban planning; became the first woman receiving this award by herself when still alive.
RIBA Chairman Jane Duncan, heading the Award Committee, says “Zaha Hadid is an effective and forceful might globally in the field of architecture”, adding “Ranging from her buildings to furniture, shoe and car designs; people and labels from all over the world desire and greatly respect her as experimental , nitpicking and a hard to please person. I can’t wait to see what she and her professional team will do from now on”.
Zaha Hadid expressed her feelings as follows: “I am so proud to be the first woman to get the Royal Golden Medal by herself. I thank Peter Cook, Louisa Hutton and David Chipperfield who nominated me, and Jane Duncan and the Award Committee for their support. Today, we see a large number of woman architects who have earned a sound place for themselves. This doesn’t mean that it was easy. We’re facing sometimes great difficulty. Enormous changes took place in recent years and we keep advancing. This award is a great honor also for our clients. It’s always exciting to collaborate with people with a vision about the city who are proud of this. Part of architecture is to ensure that people feel comfortable where they live, study or work. Therefore, we have to resist these standards. Public residences, schools and other public buildings we can call living spaces have always relied upon the minimum existence concept, which cannot be valid today. Architects now have the skill and tools to eliminate critical problems” (Mimarizm)
RIBA Gold Award, handed out regularly with the approval of UK Queen by United Kingdom Architecture Institute (RIBA) to crown lifetime success, is given to individuals or groups that are owners of works affecting the architecture discipline internationally.
Among previous winners of RIBA Gold Medal are Frank Lloyd Wright (1941), Le Corbusier (1953), Frank Gehry (2000), Archigram (2002), Frei Otto (2005), Toyo Ito (2006), Herzog & de Meuron (2007), Alvaro Siza (2009), I. M. Pei (2010), David Chipperfield (2011) and Peter Zumthor (2013). Three woman architects, who have received the award which has been handed out since 1848; were Ray Eames, Patricia Hopkins and Sheila O’Donnell who received the award together with their spouses and office partners. Zaha Hadid became the first woman receiving the award by herself when she earned 2016 Gold Medal.
