designboom · Creativity & design

Zaha Hadid Foundation Opens Former London HQ as Public Cultural Hub

Zaha Hadid's former London headquarters, a Victorian schoolhouse used by her architecture practice for over three decades, has been transformed into a public cultural space dedicated to architecture, design, and the arts. The Zaha Hadid Foundation will open the refurbished building on November 3rd, 2026.

The renovated space at 10 Bowling Green Lane in Clerkenwell will feature galleries, a lecture hall, learning facilities, and collection displays, hosting exhibitions, workshops, and creative residencies. Studio KA led the renovation of the Grade II-listed building, preserving original features while incorporating new finishes inspired by Hadid's paintings and retaining distinctive elements from her occupation.

The opening program includes "Zaha Hadid: Architecture of Performance," an exhibition focusing on her stage and set designs for dance, opera, and music, showcasing her exploration of movement and spatial geometry beyond traditional architecture.

Additional displays feature "The Rebar Beneath," a video installation by LionHeart examining structures beneath visible forms, and "The Completely Exhausting Inexhaustibility of Zaha Hadid," an animated visual timeline by Mona Chalabi.

The Foundation has also launched a new graphic identity by Experimental Jetset, utilizing a flexible typographic language that reflects Hadid's experimental approach. A redesigned website will provide expanded access to the Foundation's programs and archive.

The reopening is accompanied by a two-day symposium, "89° of Zaha Hadid," and reflects the Foundation's ambition to activate its archive through research, education, and engagement with emerging creative voices, aiming to carry Hadid's ideas forward.

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