This month kicking off with the Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, we introduce the first in a series of articles spotlighting those architects and designers who have not only inspired and influenced us but have what we believe to be a true renegade spirit as defined in the Collins English Dictionary as:
Renegade is used to describe a member of a group or profession who behaves in a way that is opposed to the normal behaviour or beliefs of that group or profession.
The mind of an architect contains a whirling universe of opposing realities, both wildly creative and intellectually mathematical; architects are artists, poets and dreamers as well as doers, resourceful problem solvers and entrepreneurs. They envision unfathomable frameworks often set against the limited briefs of clients and the physical constraints of the environment.
Their creations outline a footprint of our very existence whilst documenting a cultural representation of society past and present. Buildings dictate how we move around a space, unfurling us through a spectrum of uplifting to the downright oppressive.
As such, with so many buildings occupying our everyday realities, the future of architecture must be one envisioned within a sense of consciousness and a regard for the planet if it is to be sustainable as well as innovative.
Zaha Hadid, known as The Queen of the Curve, was one such visionary who, memorably back in 2015, bought the issue of sustainability to the fore stating that “architects had solutions”. A controversial figure, she was not known for her diplomacy, although those that knew her spoke of her generosity and sense of fun. Her fierce determination and incredible mind have left a legacy that has smashed old doctrines and revolutionised architecture, in turn affecting people’s lives.
“Architecture is really about well-being. I think that people want to feel good in a space… On one hand, it’s about shelter, but it’s also about pleasure.”