"I don't think that architecture is only about shelter, it is only about a very simple enclosure. It should be able to excite you, to calm you, to make you think." - Zaha Hadid
Some architects design buildings. Zaha Hadid imagined the future.
Her work doesn’t just stand on city skylines, it stands apart. Instantly recognisable. Effortlessly bold. From gravity-defying curves to impossible angles, she transformed concrete and glass into sculpture. Each creation invites you to pause, to reconsider what buildings can be.
From cultural centres and civic landmarks to residential towers and private residences, Zaha’s portfolio is both vast and visionary.
Here are five of her most iconic works, including a rare full-design project in Dubai.
1. The Opus by Zaha Hadid (Dubai, UAE)
Zaha’s only building in Dubai, designed entirely by her, inside and out.
In a city that’s defined by bold architecture, The Opus still surprises. Located in Business Bay, the building looks like a glass cube that’s been carved open in the middle. It’s futuristic, bold, and unlike anything else on Dubai’s skyline. Every corner feels intentional. Every curve has a purpose.
At the top of it all is the Opus Penthouse listed with PRIME by Betterhomes and Luxury Portfolio International at AED 150 million. With panoramic views and interiors echoing Hadid’s signature style, this residence is more than a home; it’s a piece of architectural history.
2. MAXXI – National Museum of 21st Century Arts (Rome, Italy)
Modern art deserves a modern space.
Rome is known for its history, but MAXXI brings the city into the 21st century. The building is a mix of concrete, glass, and light, designed to make people think, explore, and move through it in new ways.
Zaha called it an “urban campus.” It’s not just a building for art. It is art.
3. One Thousand Museum (Miami, USA)
Urban living with a futuristic edge.
Zaha Hadid’s first residential skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere, this residential tower in downtown Miami is instantly recognisable thanks to its exoskeleton-style structure. But beyond the design, the interiors are ultra-luxurious.
Private elevators, sky lounges, and a rooftop helipad, this building was designed for people who want comfort, privacy, and standout architecture in one package.
4. Vitra Fire Station (Weil am Rhein, Germany)
The first. And a sign of what was to come.
Built in the early 1990s, this Vira fire station marked Zaha Hadid’s transition from concept drawings to real buildings. The design is sharp and angular, very different from her later flowing style.
It was bold for its time and set the tone for her career: experimental, fearless, and always ahead of the curve.
5. Dame Zaha Hadid’s Own Apartment (London, UK)
A personal space by the designer herself.
Before her passing, Zaha lived in an apartment in London’s Clerkenwell district. While it’s more modest than her global projects, it reflected her unique taste. Open spaces, modern lines, and bold choices in colour and furniture.
It’s a good reminder that Zaha didn’t just design homes for others. She designed for the way people.
Final Thoughts:
Zaha Hadid didn’t follow trends; she set them. Her buildings are more than structures; they are experiences. Each one expresses a point of view. Each one challenges the norm. From Rome to Dubai, she left behind more than architecture. She left behind emotion, energy, and a vision that continues to inspire.
And perhaps the greatest lesson in all her work? True luxury doesn’t shout. It flows. It surprises. It whispers confidence.
