Zaha Hadid is widely considered one of the most influential architects of recent decades, known for redefining architectural form through fluid, dynamic design language. Her work reshaped contemporary architecture and continues to influence practitioners around the world.
A decade after her passing in 2016, Zaha Hadid’s legacy is being honored through a series of global tributes led by major cultural and architectural institutions. Among the key events is a two-day public symposium in London this October, bringing together leading voices to reflect on her enduring impact.
Global Tributes Mark 10 Years Since Zaha Hadid’s Passing
On the 10th anniversary of Dame Zaha Hadid’s death on 31 March 2016, the Zaha Hadid Foundation (ZHF), the Architectural Association (AA), and the Serpentine Galleries have announced a two-day public symposium in London this October to honor and reflect on her enduring legacy.
The symposium will be a central event in a wider year of commemorations, which also includes the reopening of the Zaha Hadid Foundation’s headquarters at 10 Bowling Green Lane, formerly Hadid’s studio, as a public cultural space. The venue will host exhibitions, talks, workshops, and artist residencies.
In Milan, tributes have also been made official. The city has named a pedestrian street Via Zaha Hadid in the CityLife district, where Hadid led major projects including the CityLife Residences, CityLife Shopping District, and the 170-meter Generali Tower. ZHF Trustee Hanif Kara and Director Aric Chen attended the dedication ceremony.
Symposium Across Iconic London Institutions
The symposium, timed close to what would have been Zaha Hadid’s 76th birthday in October, will take place across three venues: the Zaha Hadid Foundation at Bowling Green Lane, the Architectural Association, and the Serpentine Galleries.
The program will bring together architects, scholars, and interdisciplinary practitioners through talks, panels, keynotes, and personal reflections. It aims to explore Hadid’s architectural impact and the continuing relevance of her experimental approach.
The symposium will conclude with an evening event at the Serpentine Galleries featuring a keynote and panel discussion with emerging practitioners. The session will reflect on Hadid’s philosophy of continuous experimentation and its meaning for contemporary design practice.
“Ten years on, Zaha is as significant and consequential as ever,” said Aric Chen, Director of the Zaha Hadid Foundation. “The roots of her legacy run deep, and with this symposium, we hope to shed greater light on the sources and impacts of that legacy.”
Ingrid Schroder, Director of the Architectural Association, added, “We are delighted to honor what Zaha achieved and who she was. At the AA, she had her struggles and triumphs, and for our students, she remains a reminder of what is possible.”
Shaping Modern Architecture Through Learning and Experimentation
Zaha Hadid studied at the Architectural Association from 1972 to 1977, winning its Diploma Prize in her final year, and later taught there until 1987. She also served as a Trustee of the Serpentine Galleries from 1996 until her death in 2016. Her architectural contributions include the inaugural Serpentine Pavilion in 2000 and the extension of the Serpentine North Gallery completed between 2009 and 2013.
The upcoming symposium and global tributes form part of a broader effort to celebrate Hadid’s influence on architecture, design, and experimental practice worldwide.
