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Entity explores the upward climb of Zaha Hadid's architectural career.

Having you ever dreamed of leaving your inspirational mark on the world? If so, you might want to try walking in Zaha Hadid’s impressive footsteps. Besides impacting the world through the architectural projects she left behind, the #WomanThatDoes showed everyone that you shouldn’t let gender, ethnicity or pure eccentricity hold you back.

According to the New York Times, Hadid has spoken about the challenges she faced by stating, “I am non-European, I don’t do conventional work, and I am a woman.” These obstacles impacted her career in several ways, with Hadid explaining, “On the one hand, all of these things together make it easier – but on the other hand, it is very difficult.” This statement was in no way a sign of discouragement.

Hadid’s life began on October 31, 1950, in Baghdad, Iraq. She first attended a school well-known for its acceptance of Jews and Muslims, and then went to the American University in Beirut, Lebanon. Hadid’s interest in architecture grew, and at 22 she set out for the Architectural Association in London.

Throughout her education, Hadid’s ideas and creativity were anything but average. Working in architecture – a male-dominated field – was difficult enough. Yet what made Hadid stand out was her unique eye for creating design projects that others could not even imagine.

In 1994, it was time for Hadid to put her drawings to the test. She was hired to build a fire station in Weil am Rhein, Germany. Her vision – one that, according to Arch Dailyreflected a “synthesis of philosophy and architecture” – exceeded what the firefighters had imagined. Although Hadid’s work shocked and awed many  people, the fire station eventually relocated. After moving, the building was converted into an event space and gallery.

Although many appreciated the originality of Hadid’s work, she was also criticized for her impractical designs. After all, fire stations are typically constructed with simple and plain architecture, not dramatic, elegant or geometric designs. But to Hadid, every building was art and should be portrayed as such.

Since then, Hadid’s design su basically turned into a map of the world. She went on to design the Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati, an opera house in Guangzhou, China, the Evelyn Grace Academy in Brixton, London, and many more enchanting buildings.

Hadid’s unique vision earned her dozens of awards, but in 2004 she became the first woman and the first Iraqi to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize. According to the award’s website, the prize is intended to “honor a living architect or architects whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision, and commitment which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture.”

The inspirational woman’s accomplishments are especially noteworthy when viewed in the context of her Iraqi heritage. Iraq has struggled with women’s equality for quite some time, and internal conflict and the Iraqi war did not improve conditions. Although women may be starting to receive more opportunities, many problematic areas remain. Thus, Hadid’s work provides inspiration and comfort to the Iraqi people by demonstrating what a woman can do with a free mind, determination and support.

Edited by Casey Cromwell
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