“Close Up” on Zaha Hadid’s Work at MAM Shanghai

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) exhibits its world-spread works of architecture and design at the Modern Art Museum in Shanghai. The exhibition, ZHA Close Up, features Zaha Hadid’s signature style and the elaborative research, that covers all possible disciplines, behind it.

ZHA Close Up is running from July 3rd till August 29th, 2021. ZHA’s signature style is, without doubt, of one mind–yet it is changing its method and visions to fit the context of modern-day and technological innovations. Hence, the exhibition showcases 40 years’ timeline of the development of Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) buildings several of which took place in China. Going over ZHA’s projects all at once shows how architecture can connect with nature and culture, be exquisite and integrative, and take absolute advantage of technology, simultaneously! Surely, this is Zaha Hadid’s recipe for being the first female architect to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004.

The renowned architect founded her architecture firm, Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), in 1979, which works across the globe changed the face of architecture. Hadid was intrigued by the Chinese landscapes and waterscapes and the country’s unique art and architecture when she first visited it in 1981. This explains ZHA’s successful and award-winning projects and designs in China, including the Peak Club in Hong Kong, the Guangzhou Opera House, Beijing Daxing International Airport, and Leeza SOHO in Beijing.

Shai Baitel, Artistic Director of MAM Shanghai, said: “I am excited to include, as part of our interdisciplinary and immersive approach at MAM, this important exhibition, celebrating Zaha Hadid’s ingenuity. Hadid was an exceptional woman, and we are delighted to show our audience the development of her movement as a researcher, designer, and architect through various geographies and histories—and how this movement impacts the current innovative vision and work of Zaha Hadid Architects, following her untimely passing. Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) continues and expands on her legacy and MAM is proud to present this show, granting unprecedented insights into the vision of one of the most important architects of our time.”

Besides the innovative projects, ZHA Close Up showcases the firm’s research efforts that contribute to the success and development of the industry– according to Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), their research covers the following aspects:

• Sustainability – the application of detailed environmental analysis and geometry optimization techniques to maximize efficient design with less waste and consumption of resources.
• Computation & Design – a collaboration with the world’s most respected scientific institutions to develop innovations in robotics, artificial intelligence, and digital fabrication.
• ZH Social – investigation of the social interaction processes to be expected in the designed environments via agent-based simulations with differentiated agent populations and decision processes.
• Analytics & Insights – data analytics and human behavior modeling to design healthy and productive working environments that are tailor-made to overall and individual wellness.
• Virtual Reality – demonstrating the remarkable possibilities immersive technologies will offer architects to collaborate and design in augmented reality.

Close Up features, as well, Zaha Hadid Design (ZHD) that was founded in 2006 to specify a platform for Zaha Hadid’s contemporary product design, including unique furniture, lighting, and fashion designs, furthermore, the exhibition showcases “ZHD Collection” that include limited edition pieces designed by ZHD in collaboration with iconic brands.

Patrik Schumacher, Principal, Zaha Hadid Architects, said: “With this show, we aim to present who we are close up, our depth of experience, our current preoccupations, and our aspirations for the future.”

The Modern Art Museum in the heart of Shanghai is the largest contemporary art museum in town, measuring over 7,000 square meters. MAM features great interest in global and multidisciplinary contemporary art.