In the heart of Clerkenwell, at 10 Bowling Green Lane, the former headquarters of Zaha Hadid’s architectural practice begins a new chapter. For more than three decades, this was the creative home of one of the most visionary architects of our time. Now, following an extensive refurbishment, the building reopens as the public home of the Zaha Hadid Foundation, offering visitors an opportunity to discover the artistic universe behind her extraordinary work.
Originally a Victorian schoolhouse dating from the 1870s, the Grade II-listed building has been carefully restored by Studio KA, retaining elements of Hadid’s former studio alongside distinctive architectural details and furniture designed by the architect herself. The transformation preserves the spirit of the original workspace while introducing galleries and spaces for exhibitions, talks and educational programmes. The shop is also great!
Under the direction of Aric Chen, the Foundation aims to create a platform for architecture, contemporary art and interdisciplinary exchange. Its remarkable archive, comprising approximately 300,000 objects, includes drawings, paintings, architectural models, furniture, fashion and personal belongings. Together, these materials reveal a more intimate portrait of Hadid, whose interests extended far beyond architecture into art, design and collecting.
The inaugural programme includes Zaha Hadid: Architecture of Performance, an exhibition exploring her fascination with choreography, theatre, music and movement through drawings, models, photographs and archival material. Alongside it, The Rebar Beneath, a new commission by artist and poet LionHeart, brings a contemporary perspective to Hadid’s archive through film, poetry and performance.
From London’s Aquatics Centre to the MAXXI Museum in Rome, Hadid fundamentally challenged conventional ideas of form and space. The Foundation now offers an opportunity to look beyond these celebrated buildings and explore the imagination, experimentation and artistic curiosity that informed them.
More than a tribute, the new institution is a living continuation of Hadid’s vision: a place where her legacy can inspire new conversations and creative possibilities for future generations.
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