Meet world’s most famous female Architect – Zaha Hadid

Zaha Hadid is an Iaqi-British architect. Do an internet search for Zaha Hadid, and you will find an endless stream of information about her

Last month, it was reported that her firm ZHA would be responsible for the creation of the world’s largest airport terminal.

The starfish-shaped building will form part of Beijing’s new airport. Building Design Online reported that the terminal would measure 700,000 square meters.

Hadid was born Oct. 31, 1950, in Baghdad, where she grew up, before studying mathematics at the American University of Beirut. She went on to study at London’s Architectural Association School of Architecture.

Dame Zaha boasts an impressive catalogue of designs, including the aquatics center for the London 2012 Olympics.

Each design, while unique in its look and feel, tends to carry her signature style of curves and smooth surfaces.

It is not just exteriors that Hadid has created. She designed the Mind Zone in London’s Millennium Dome, which was open to the public for one year from Jan. 1, 2000

Hadid said recently of her education at the Architectural Association School of Architecture: “They thought I was a troublemaker.

Despite being the world’s most famous female architect, it is not an accolade she particularly likes to shout about.

“I don’t generally think of myself always as a woman architect, as I’ve said many times. I feel that I should be recognized as an architect first.

“People ask, ‘what’s it like to be a woman architect?’ I say, ‘I don’t know, I’ve not been a man.’ But now I think that if it serves as an inspiration or it helps women architects to push on then that’s fine.

“Whenever I give lectures, I get lots of women come up to me wanting reassurance that it’s a trip worth taking.”