Dame Zaha Hadid has become the first woman to be honored with the Riba Gold Medal for architecture in her own right. The Iraq-born, London-based architect has penned designs for a number of iconic venues, including the Aquatics Centre for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Hadid and her firm have designed a number of sports stadia in locations across the world.
The award is the latest honor bestowed upon Hadid, who was made a Dame in 2012, and has twice received the Riba Stirling Prize – among the most prestigious architectural awards bestowed by the UK. The Gold Medal, which is approved by the Queen is given in recognition of Hadid’s lifetime of achievement.
