Study On Zaha Hadid Architectural Design And Practice In China

Since the1980s, as a result of rapid economic growth in China, architectural designpractices experienced a leap of development. The input of international architectural designplayed a great role in this change. Zaha Hadid was well known for her work on theGuangzhou Opera House, and as a result began to capture the attention of the Cantonesepeople and subsequently the interest of all of China. This paper analyzes the development ofthe international architectural style in China through research on Zaha Hadid’s work on theGuangzhou Opera House. This paper also reviews her design concepts by examining herfamily and educational backgrounds, as well as her unique experiences. We have concludedthat her work experiments with new spatial concepts which intensify existing urbanlandscapes. In pursuit of a visionary aesthetic that encompasses all fields of design emphasisis focused on a more logical design process based upon systematic theories instead of moretraditional intuitive design techniques. Her later works put more emphasis on curves tocapture a building’s fluidity and its integration into its natural surroundings. We furtherconclude that Zaha Hadid’s design ideas consist of expressing ‘Articulating Complexity’,non-liner systematic approaches and asymmetric building designs.‘Articulating Complexity’plays a central role as a fundamental principle guiding her architectural creations.Furthermore, it illustrates our growing social complexity. New technologies allow designersto utilize more new materials, new tools and new patterns than ever before to meet theincreasing challenges. Therefore, the functions of architecture and urban space utilization willbecome increasingly more ambiguous. Emergent, adaptive and transformable spaces aregradually replacing limited functional spaces. Even a single space could conceivably allowmore potential functions. In other words, Ms. Hadid’s intention was to create a landscape bymetonymically integrating the various historical, cultural, urban, societal, and economicfeatures as exhibited by an architectural design. Her work experiments with new spatialconcepts intensifying existing urban landscapes in the pursuit of a visionary aesthetic thatencompasses all fields of design.Through analyzing the design of the Guangzhou Opera House—Zaha’s first work inChina—this paper explores her consistent design concepts and style. Zaha Hadid’s "double pebble" concept, creating ever more surreal skycaps at each turn of the head, reflects asymbiotic effect. The experience of strolling between and around the two "pebbles" is anextension of this architectural performance, as is her idea of buildings aslandscapes—shaping structures and spaces within them as if they might meander like a river.This is a beautiful idea very nearly realized in Chinese traditional garden andhorticulture designs. Her works also reflect the practice of combining Chinese traditionalculture and modern international building design styles, paying homage to local culture andinnovation.Consequently, we also emphasize the significance of this research. Hadid’s innovationwas based upon a combination of new technologies and the recognition of urban culturaldynamics. Her works involve tradition and modernity, art and architecture, buildings andenvironment, architecture and landscapes, even some social elements as well. Hadid was apioneer, creating new architectural terms, providing a valuable example for us. It is obviousthat Chinese architects should pursue critical thinking and self-innovation, should have asystematic and comprehensive understanding of the styles and characteristics of Hadid’sarchitecture works, adapted for these combinations. We should establish the knowledge ofintegration of multicultural fusion between Chinese and Western architectural cultures andintegrate the traditional and the innovative in the process of design, Strive for the unity ofarchitectural style and function，especially the localization of Chinese architectural conceptsand theories. By doing so we wish to promote the development of Chinese architecture andChinese architects to contribute their designs and styles to the world.