HKDI gallery explores zaha hadid architects' vertical urbanism in online exhibition

HKDI gallery opens zaha hadid architects: vertical urbanism exhibition online

the fluid, explosive, boundless innovations of zaha hadid architects have elevated architecture to new heights. in the hong kong design institute (HKDI) ‘zaha hadid architects: vertical urbanism’ exhibition, this saying takes a more literal meaning. it showcases the studio’s ground-breaking work in urban high-rise developments, shifting the norms of this typology both in principle and practice. famed, recently completed and under development projects are shown through a variety of documentation tools, ranging from technical drawings and diagrams, computer-generated visualizations and architectural models to video projections and virtual reality experiences.

held at HKDI gallery, the exhibition is open virtually (here).

thallus, installation, 2017, sculpture developed by ZHA CODE with ZHD in collaboration with aibuild, odico formwork robotics, armadillo engineering

all images courtesy of HKDI gallery

ZHA’s exploration of tower typologies

HKDI gallery’s ‘zaha hadid architects: vertical urbanism’ exhibition displays a range of approaches from ZHA in the development of vibrant, sustainable community-oriented spaces within urban conditions. it is a highly visual exploration of the practice’s ongoing research and development within this typology of architecture. the exhibition is thematically structured around three aspects of their work: expounding on the research of ZHA’s computation & design research group (ZHA CODE); exploring the studio’s designs for towers in cities around the world; and showcasing ZHA’s seminal projects in the region.

‘we are excited to collaborate with ZHA and present the ‘zaha hadid architects: vertical urbanism’ exhibition as part of HKDI’s interdisciplinary program,’ says dr lay lian ong, principal of HKDI & IVE (lee wai lee). ‘zaha hadid was a radical innovator who has left an imprint on modern architecture and design that will endure for many years to come. this exhibition celebrates the ingenuity of ZHA, showcasing the depth of experience of one of the most renowned architecture firms in the world. we hope that this exhibition will provide insight for students and the public alike into the stunning vision of one of the most important architects of our time.’ 

on entering the gallery, visitors are welcomed by zaha hadid’s peak project in hong kong – claimed, by many, to be the architect’s breakthrough work. though never built, the design offered a first glimpse into the concepts of ZHA, from the experimentation on structures that push traditional boundaries to floating fluid forms as well as the integration of public spaces within dense urban environments. two award-winning projects are also showcased as regional highlights from ZHA: the morpheus hotel at city of dreams macau, opened in 2018, introduces the world’s first free-form high-rise exo-skeleton, as the 40-storey building’s two internal vertical circulation cores connect at podium and roof levels to define a central atrium; and constructing the henderson tower in central hong kong, which conceptualizes a 36-storey urban oasis that bridges nature from its adjacent public gardens into its generous communal spaces.

the experiential and communicative value of ZHA’s vertical urban architecture is also explored through the selection of the practice’s most renowned tower projects from around the world. per project and per context, each one shows a variation of the shared theme of moving beyond the existing paradigm of tower design. highlighted projects include the one thousand museum tower in miami and the leeza SOHO tower in beijing. patrik schumacher, principal of ZHA, outlines five critical components of 21st century tower design in a formative essay for the exhibition that are apparent in these case studies: density; atria + bridges; façade; ground interface; and sustainability.

the peak project, hong kong, 1982-1983

‘the skyscraper seems locked in the bygone fordist paradigm of segregating segmentation and serial repetition. the tower typology is the last bastion of this bygone era. the time is ripe to challenge the standard tower typology and demand that it too participates in the general societal restructuring from fordism to post-fordism,’ states patrik schumacher, principal of ZHA.

‘the agenda of communicative intensification within and between densely spaced high-rise structures, via the combined strategies of clustering, bridges and atria, will articulate a new paradigm for the design of high-rise urbanism. on this basis, the tower typology will receive a new lease of life in the central metropolitan societies, where the desire for connectivity drives urban density. in the future, even more than is evident already now, this super-dense build up will be a mixed-use build up, where multiple life-processes intersect. these life-processes need to be ordered in intricate ways that nevertheless remain legible and thereby empowering.’

city of towers, installation

visitors gain insight into the research and development behind the practice’s work. an area of the exhibition is dedicated to ZHA CODE, the collaboration between the studio and the world’s leading scientific institutions that develops innovations in robotics, artificial intelligence and digital fabrication. the results then inform ZHA’s design process in turn. the system develops design and logistical strategies with new construction technologies that ensure sustainability using as little material and energy as possible. this is exemplified by the robotically printed experimental sculpture called thallus.

#essenceofdesign program at HKDI gallery

as part of the institute’s #essenceofdesign program in 2022, the HKDI’s ‘zaha hadid architects: vertical urbanism’ exhibition goes virtual (here). a wider audience is welcomed to journey through projects, zoom into visual details and experience multimedia elements. visitors can also watch the master lecture from patrik schumacher and an online roundtable discussion about the emerging topic of vertical urbansim on 24 march, 2022 (here).

one thousand museum, miami beach, 2012-2020

unicorn island masterplan, chengdu, 2018-in progress

leeza SOHO, beijing, 2015-2019

housing study models

exhibition info:

institute: HKDI gallery

exhibition: zaha hadid architects: vertical urbanism

period: 16 february – 3 april, 2022

co-organizer: zaha hadid architects