Despite Zaha's different style or "non-style" as the essay says her practice is based "in an area of London that bears the scent of Dickens". I found this interesting as I would have imagined her practice all working in a place that is something out of a sci-fi film but no. She has no works that have taken place in London! I believe this shows a certain amount of ignorance of those that allow the London landscape to be constructed, with its many rules and regulations of what can and can't be build. This also shows the importance of London to the architectural world because despite not have been given the opportunity to create her own office in London she is still here. Is London the Architectural capital of the world?
Her 200 minions crammed into the practice, not talking to each other, almost plugged into their machines. Why is it that if you work for a well known architect you almost have to sell your soul? You just have to be a working zombie so you can get a good name on your C.V. Is this even good architectural experience? Architecture is not just drawing, communication is just as important, if not more. As there are no clients and no jobs without communication.
Zaha is a woman, one of few famous female architects and probably "The Female Architect". This is something that she uses to her advantage. Her designs being almost "fashionable", like the latest handbag or shoe. It makes me wonder how long she'll be "in-fashion" for. Is she a classic that stands the test of time or just what's in season at Primark?
The press is just a "PR machine". Jonathan Meades is very critical of this but isn't that what every Architect wants/needs? Publicity. Without the press, how are your workd shown to the world? How is your name advertised?
Zaha claims she is "not much of a reader of anything other than magazines". This maybe, she sees the importance of the press and has to trawl through all the magazines to get inside the presses mind. Its not like she admitted to reading a load of Nuts magazines. I'm sure they are of importance to her profession and as i have already mentioned, the press is what keeps her work fashionable. For when they lose interest would be the possible downfall of the great Hadid.
"A city, A city". Can an architect design an entire city from scratch? The idea of a hadidopolis, even though I would agree there are a lot of out of date and vacant buildings that need to be brought into this century, I don't believe a complete answer can be provided by one person. Cities are the result of years/decades of evolution. When an architect tries to design a city the result is one person's view and therefore does not cater for all types/kinds of people. The idea, i believe, of a hadidopolis would never be a city, it would just be a sanctuary for the rich. Also would the interest in her work remain if all the buildings were made by her. Surely what makes Zaha Hadid, Zaha Hadid is the difference of her builds to others!
I found this article good as an incite into Zaha Hadid, but found the writer some what of a bitch. He definitely put his own emotions first in a somewhat diva way, almost competing with Zaha. He has been very selective in the parts of the interview he has used, and has moulded the interview so that we perceive Zaha how he wants to. I would like to find out the real "Intelligent Life" of "The First Great Female Architect".
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