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Though she was primarily known as an architect, the late Dame Zaha Hadid was also an accomplished product designer, lending her sculptural aesthetic to objects ranging from furniture and fixtures to jewelry and shoes. We take a look back at some of Hadid’s contributions to the product world.
B&B Italia: Moon System (2007)
Boomerang-shaped curves form the seat and backrest of this sofa, meant to look as if both were carved out of a single block of material. Hadid cleverly devised an integrated crescent-shaped pouf that pulls out from the front indentation of the sofa.
Serralunga: Flow (2007)
Looking as if they belong in the MoMA Sculpture Garden, these massive statement pieces are actually indoor/outdoor planters with fluid curves. Available in a 3- or 6.5-foot-high (1- or 2-meter-high) version, the planters are rotationally molded linear low-density polyethylene that is 100-percent recyclable after use. The pieces are hand-lacquered in white or black.
Valli&Valli: ZH Duemilacinque (2008)
Hadid collaborated with colleague Woody Yao for this edgy, folded-design handle series, which was originally created for the Puerta America Hotel in Madrid before becoming part of Valli&Valli’s Fusital Collection. Door and window versions are available in polished or satin chrome.
Sawaya & Moroni: Z-Chair (2011)
Exhibited at Salone 2011, the polished stainless steel chair may not have looked terribly comfortable, but its appearance was striking nevertheless, boasting calligraphic zigzags that seemingly cut through and remain suspended in space. Z-Chair was produced in a limited edition of 24. Additional concepts she developed for Sawaya & Moroni include the plastic fortune-cookie-evoking Kuki chair, the modular Z-Play and benches Stalactite, Glacier and Moraine.
Magis: Tide (2011)
An intriguing wall shelving system, Tide consists of individual modules each with two curves that form a central cross-shaped division. Grouped together with other modules, the system creates square cubby-like shelves. The units are standard injection-molded glossy ABS plastic offered in red, white or black.
Cassina: Zephyr Sofa (2013)
Offered in a limited edition of only 12 pieces, Zephyr was a contract-grade design that was unveiled at Salone 2013. The seemingly amorphous shapes of both the seats and backrests took inspiration from natural rock formations and erosion patterns. Hadid designed the units to be combined if desired to create larger islands or archipelagos of seating. The interior surfaces were padded in upholstered foam, while the outer frames were finished in high-gloss lacquer.
Slamp: Avia and Aria (2013–2015)
The sculptural form of this suspension light series is created with separate layers of Slamp’s proprietary materials: 52 layers of Opalflex® techno-polymer for Avia and 50 layers of Cristalflex® techno-polymer for Aria. Both feature multiple points of light to provide 360 degrees of illumination in dramatic fashion, as well as a downlight. Avia is offered in white or black and in four different sizes to suit a variety of settings, while Aria, originally available in black only, now comes in black or transparent in three sizes.
Wiener Silber Manufactur: Vase Loa and Vesu (2014)
These vessels are so elegantly executed in high-polish silver, they might be mistaken for pieces of fine art. The fluidity that meanders into much of Hadid’s work is present in this pair as contour lines that are dense at the tops of the vases before gradually disappearing toward the bottoms. The vessels, standing 16 inches (400 millimeters) high, were offered in a limited edition of 25 each.
That same year, at Maison et Objet, Lalique unveiled her crystal vase designs Visio and Manifesto.
Olivari: Chevron (2015)
Directly inspired by her residential project in New York City (520 West 28th Street), this elegant door handle takes its shape from the condominium’s façade and window patterns. Chevron comes in chrome, satin chrome and superanthracite satin finishes.
Georg Jensen: The Zaha Hadid Collection (2016)
In 2016, Georg Jensen unveiled its collaboration with Hadid on a stunning jewelry collection. The Zaha Hadid collection references her architectural project, the Wangjing Soho skyscraper complex in Beijing, with sweeping curves rendered in sterling silver with some offered in silver-plated black rhodium set with black diamonds. Eight pieces ranging from cuff bracelets to two-finger rings were displayed at the recent Baselworld 2016.
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