Zaha Hadid: Paper Museums Highlights Architectural Innovation in Paper Reliefs

The Zaha Hadid Foundation (ZHF) presents Zaha Hadid: Paper Museums, an exhibition running from September 19 to November 16, 2024, at its gallery in Clerkenwell, London. This exhibition sheds light on the unique role of paper reliefs in shaping Zaha Hadid’s architectural practice. By focusing on three of Hadid’s museum designs—the Contemporary Arts Center (Cincinnati, USA), MAXXI: Museum of XXI Century Arts (Rome, Italy), and the unrealized Museum of Islamic Art (Doha, Qatar)—the show emphasizes how these paper reliefs bridged the gap between two- and three-dimensional designs, reflecting her avant-garde approach to architecture.

Spanning a critical period from the late 1990s to the early 2000s, these projects showcase how Hadid’s designs relied heavily on analogue techniques such as cutting and folding paper to explore the curves and fluidity that became her architectural signature. The exhibition reveals how these methods were not only essential in designing her structures but also stood as works of art in themselves.

Reimagining Architectural Spaces through Paper

Zaha Hadid’s exploration of paper as a medium was instrumental in realizing the flowing, interlocking spaces characteristic of her museum designs. Highlights of the exhibition include intricate paper reliefs from the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, where her concept of the “urban carpet” is revealed through detailed stairway and gallery space models. These paper constructions provided tangible representations of Hadid’s vision of creating an organic, dynamic flow within the museum, guiding visitors from one space to another seamlessly.

The exhibition also features a large-scale paper relief of the MAXXI museum in Rome, which uses an aerial perspective to capture how the structure integrates into its urban environment. Additionally, Hadid’s designs for the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, which were never realized, are presented through exterior models and site plans that demonstrate her innovative approach to space optimization and architectural flow.

The Legacy of Paper Reliefs in Modern Architecture

The exhibition’s curator, Catherine Howe, emphasizes the significance of Hadid’s use of paper reliefs in shaping her architectural narrative. “Paper Museums reveals the impressive creativity of Zaha Hadid Architects when they developed their art museums,” says Howe. “Their groundbreaking use of paper reliefs was particularly suited to designing engaging exhibition spaces, but the reliefs themselves stand as works of art.”

In addition to the physical exhibition, Zaha Hadid: Paper Museums includes a comprehensive public program of talks, workshops, and guided tours. These events delve deeper into Hadid’s methods and their lasting influence on modern architecture. One such event, “Zaha Hadid’s ‘Architecture’ of Painting,” examines how Hadid used painting as part of her design process, merging two- and three-dimensional work in groundbreaking ways.

Hadid’s Contribution to Museum Design

The exhibition places Hadid’s work in a broader historical context, tracing the evolution of museum architecture and the pivotal role that paper reliefs played in her designs. Jane Pavitt, Head of Research and Learning at the Zaha Hadid Foundation, hopes the exhibition will inspire visitors to think about Hadid’s work from a new perspective: “Paper Museums shines a spotlight on a form of architectural model-making that is both beautiful and unusual.”

The Zaha Hadid Foundation is dedicated to preserving the late architect’s legacy by curating exhibitions, promoting research, and fostering public engagement through talks, workshops, and publications. The Foundation’s collection includes over 15,000 works that chronicle Hadid’s career, showcasing her as one of the most innovative architects of the 21st century.

Public Program Highlights

In addition to the exhibition, visitors can engage in various workshops and panel discussions, such as:

•The Architectural Model: A workshop exploring the role of models in architecture.

•Women in Architectural History: A panel talk launching the book “Women in Architectural History” by Professor Dana Arnold.

•The Monstrous Regiment Reassembled: A creative workshop that allows participants to explore model-making inspired by Hadid’s work.

As Zaha Hadid: Paper Museums unfolds, it offers a rich, multi-dimensional view of how Hadid’s architectural practice relied on the tactile and visual power of paper. The exhibition serves as a reminder of her creative legacy and how she transformed paper into a medium for architectural innovation.