zaha hadid foundation museum and research center are now underway

a museum, gallery, and research center

after some delays, the zaha hadid foundation (ZHF) has announced the creation of a permanent museum, gallery, and research center to honor the late renowned architect, designer, and artist. their locations will be divided into two: one in the former space of london’s design museum at shad thames and the other at bowling green lane in clerkenwell which, until last year, was the headquarters of the practice and studio of hadid (the architects had to move out from the location since the space was not ideal for the pandemic, working situations).

the full development of the spaces experienced delays drawn from the sudden death of hadid in 2016 along with the internal conflicts that resulted in directors lodging a claim to the high court in the UK. now that work is fully underway, paul greenhalgh – a historian, writer, curator, and manager in the visual arts – was appointed as the inaugural director of zaha hadid foundation. ZHF will house a collection of 10,000 works across a range of media that all tie in with the late hadid. the foundation is now in its first strategic planning phase and is in the process of developing its buildings, managing and cataloging its collection, and organizing its first public programs and bursary awards.

image by steve double

publicly accessible

according to the foundation, ZHF’s facilities and collections will be publicly accessible both physically and digitally through its website and online database at the end of its first phase. its programs of research and learning will also be accessible and available. ‘ZHF aims to facilitate the work of practicing architects, designers, artists, scholars, and the general public alike, in order to advance knowledge across the creative sector. creative collaborations with other organizations are a core part of the ZHF mission.’

the zaha hadid foundation dedicates itself to the work and artistic legacy of zaha hadid, to the advancement of research and education in areas pertaining to both, and to areas in architecture, design, and related disciplines that reflect her creative spirit. ‘part of the mission of the zaha hadid foundation is to advance research into zaha hadid, her legacy, and into modern architecture and design more generally,’ shares the foundation.

heyday aliyev centre (all other images by zaha hadid architects)

research at the forefront

ZHF will support research concerning the practices of architecture and design and studies that will contribute to the improvement of the physical and cultural environment. ‘by the end of its first developmental phase, it will support new scholarship through its funding programs and by making its archive and collections fully available. the foundation will develop research programs supporting exhibitions, publications, and such activities which bring this research into the public domain. for example, it will promote and disseminate research through its program of colloquia, conferences, and events. ZHF will work in collaboration with other research organizations, including academic, museum, and research funding partners, in support of its mission.’

heydar aliyev centre