Is Zaha Hadid Losing Her Touch?

We’ve featured the most famous architect in the world, the massively popular Zaha Hadid, on pogledaj.to several times, and if you’re up-to-date with the world’s architecture and design goings-on, you’re sure to have heard of this Iranian-born British-based architect. That’s mostly because alongside numerous awards for her work, most of her projects rarely go unnoticed due to her originality, esthetic perfectionism, as well as the contemporariness of her iconic work and wide scope of creativity. Just recall Hadid’s worldwide great works of architecture (some of which we featured on pogledaj.to), along with her experiments in production and project work outside of architecture. Lacoste, Brazillian-based Melisa, and Louis Vuitton are but a few famous brands this architect collaborated with to design their fashion lines, shoes, and bags. Likewise, her ventures into furniture, kitchenware, and jewelry hardly come as a surprise. Zaha Hadid’s retrospective exhibition was held earlier this year in Padua where most of her work was displayed.

* from wallpaper series “Stria”

One of Zaha’s latest collaborations, having been covered by websites and blogs worldwide, could indicate that she’s gone too far, maybe even lost her touch. It’s a line of wallpapers that Hadid designed for Marburg, a well-known German wallpaper company. To say the least, it doesn’t take one’s breath away, and it’s not up to par with the architect’s usually impressive level of creativity and originality. Perhaps we can only visualize the Stria wallpapers, despite their being visually aggressive and challenging to view, at some übercool new club, a trendy fusion restaurant, or a Tokyo or Manhattan hotel. Others, however, seem excessive, lacking in design and color schemes, and are completely substandard when compared to Zaha Hadid’s previous creative expression.

Is Hadid losing her touch? Was she right to go for quantity over quality in such an overly ambitious collaboration? You be the judge.