zaha hadid's heydar aliyev center wins design of the year

zaha hadid’s heydar aliyev center wins design of the year
all images courtesy of the heydar aliyev center

the heydar aliyev center in baku, azerbaijan has won the design museum ‘design of the year award 2014’. completed by zaha hadid in her signature style, the sinuous structure is the first architectural project to win the award, now in its seventh year. each of the nominated designs are on display at the london-based institution until august 25, 2014.

‘we’re absolutely delighted to receive the design of the year award. the surface of the heydar aliyev centre’s external plaza rises and folds to define a sequence of public event spaces within; welcoming, embracing and directing visitors throughout the building. it’s an architectural landscape where concepts of seamless spatial flow are made real – creating a whole new kind of civic space for the city,’ commented zaha hadid, the first woman to win the competition’s top prize.

layered and curved volumes are clad in pristine, white tiles

‘it’s beautiful, it’s inspiring, it’s the clear vision of a singular genius and we thought it was a remarkable piece of work‘, explains ekow eshun, chair of the jury.

‘a great architect needs a great client, technology, the public, the landscape and the right time. the jury felt that for zaha’s office, this is a pinnacle moment in their portfolio, a sign of international maturity. the jury argued heatedly for and against, and then we finally agreed unanimously that the project deserves our utmost respect. this architecture should make us talk for years to come‘, added jury member kim colin, of industrial facility.

see designboom‘s previous coverage of the competition’s category winners here, and our in-depth feature on zaha hadid’s winning design here.

the form is a series of thickened and graduated curves that allow natural light to enter

staggered glazing creates a dynamic relationship with the structure’s immediate surroundings

the building’s envelope is completely devoid of straight lines

the structure features hadid’s sinuous lines and sculpted curves

gallery space within the cultural center

interiors are artfully and naturally lit