Zaha Hadid, the Pritzker Prize-winning architect, has transformed skylines around the world with her soaring skyscrapers. The Iraq-born and London-based architect has also left a legacy of dynamic cultural landmarks—from the MAXXI Museum in Rome and Glasgow’s Riverside Museum to the Guangzhou Opera House in China and the Serpentine Sackler Gallery in London. Now she’s getting into the retail game.
American shoemaker Stuart Weitzman has recruited Hadid to design six boutiques. The wow-worthy store concept recently debuted on Via Sant’Andrea in Milan, the brand’s flagship (and 100th store globally). The futuristic shoe displays (pictured) look as cool as Hadid’s curved buildings. The seating areas are also utterly unique. “Stores are becoming bigger now. They have to compete with online. And there is another aspect of shopping, which is entertainment. You need that,” the architect explained.
After Milan, Hadid will design Stuart Weitzman stores in New York, Hong Kong, and Rome. For more information, visit www.zaha-hadid.com.