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Zaha Hadid: The Serpentine North Gallery
Zaha Hadid: The Serpentine North Gallery
In this film, Obrist steps inside one of Zaha Hadid’s most striking architectural achievements—the Serpentine North Gallery. Known for its sharp geometries, dramatic interior lines, and signature fluidity, this building reflects Zaha Hadid's pioneering approach to architecture.
Designed in 2013, the gallery was Hadid’s first permanent building in London and a powerful example of her later work—unapologetically bold and sculptural.
Join HENI Talks as we explore the story behind this architectural masterpiece, its design principles, and its lasting influence on contemporary architecture.
Time Period:
20th century
Themes:
Hans Ulrich Obrist (b. 1968, Zurich, Switzerland) is Artistic Director of the Serpentine Galleries, London. Prior to this, he was the Curator of the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. Since his first show 'World Soup (The Kitchen Show)' in 1991 he has curated more than 300 shows.
So far in 2018, Obrist has co-curated at the Serpentine Galleries a solo show for Rose Wylie. In 2014 he curated the Swiss Pavilion at the 14th International Architecture Biennale in Venice, where he presented 'Lucius Burckhardt and Cedric Price --- A stroll through a fun palace'; the building was designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron, and the program was developed with artists Liam Gillick, Philippe Parreno, Tino Sehgal and Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster. Obrist's Art of Handwriting project is taking place on Instagram and is a protest against the disappearance of handwriting in the digital age.
In 2013, Obrist co-founded with Simon Castets the 89plus, a long-term, international, multi-platform research project, conceived as a mapping of the digitally native generation born in or after 1989. In 2011 Obrist received the CCS Bard Award for Curatorial Excellence, in 2009 he was made Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), and in 2015 he received the International Folkwang Prize for his commitment to the arts. Obrist has lectured internationally at academic and art institutions, and is contributing editor to several magazines and journals.
Obrist's recent publications include Mondialité, Conversations in Mexico, Conversations in Colombia, Ways of Curating, The Age of Earthquakes with Douglas Coupland and Shumon Basar, and Lives of The Artists, Lives of The Architects.
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12:53
Zaha Hadid: Sketching the Future
Hans Ulrich Obrist traces how Zaha Hadid’s futuristic architecture evolved from ‘superfluid’ sketches.
07:22
Zaha Hadid: Vitra Fire Station
Rolf Fehlbaum, chairman emeritus of Vitra, discusses the visionary design of Zaha Hadid’s Vitra Fire Station, one of her most iconic early works. Completed in 1993, this groundbreaking building in Weil am Rhein, Germany, defies conventional architectural forms with its sculptural forms, sharp angles, and dramatic use of concrete. Redefining architectural boundaries, the Vitra Fire Station was Hadid’s first constructed project, marking a pivotal moment in her career and influencing generations of architects to come.
05:43
Zaha Hadid: Olympic Swimming Pool
Deyan Sudjic, Director Emeritus of The Design Museum, London discovers the breathtaking London Aquatics Centre in Stratford, London, designed by the legendary architect Zaha Hadid. Known for her futuristic, fluid forms and innovative structures, Hadid’s work transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary experiences. Hadid won an architectural competition with her visionary design for the Olympic swimming pool for the London 2012 Olympics. This iconic venue is a true masterpiece of design, blending elegance, functionality, and cutting-edge architecture.