Zaha Hadid sets sights on London skyline

摘要

Zaha Hadid is hoping to make her mark on the London skyline by moving into high-rise commercial development in the capital, writes Emily Wright. Hadid is best known for designing public buildings in the UK and overseas but the woman behind the Olympics' aquatics centre has told Building this isn't all the practice can do and that she sees a future in tall buildings in the UK. The decision to look at the London market is, in part, due to the fact that the practice has been hit hard by the combination of economic downturn and political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa. The group's workforce was cut by 100 to 350 employees last month after schemes, many of which were high-rise office developments in countries such as Dubai, Egypt and Libya, went on hold. Hadid is now looking to make use of the group's expertise elsewhere.