The red queen.

ZAHA HADID. THE COMPLETE WORKS

London: Thames & Hudson. 2005. Four volumes. [pounds sterling]75

The nature of Zaha Hadid's work is that of a constantly expanding universe. From the beginning of her architectural career, Hadid's dazzling and dynamic architectural style has been the subject of a wide variety of publications. The present collection by Thames & Hudson consists of four volumes entitled 'Essays', 'Selected Works', 'Sketches' and 'Project Documentations'. All four differently-sized volumes fit neatly into a transparent red Lucite box--embossed in large letters on one side by the architect's name. It must be said that Thames & Hudson have succeeded in publishing the most lavish, complete and comprehensive presentation of Zaha Hadid's oeuvre to date. The presentation of the books themselves is an excellent depiction of Hadid's work: an objet d'art with striking visual and tactile qualities. Here architecture is celebrated as a preciously stylish product and similar to the launch of a new fragrance, the sculptural flacon develops its own symbolic language.

Indeed, the contents of the four volumes captures the essence and the complexity of Hadid's designs very well. 'Selected Projects', the largest of the volumes, gives a succinct overview of the world of Zaha Hadid (including her product and exhibition designs)--a world that is revolving at at least twice its speed ever since the ill-fated Cardiff Bay Opera House (1994-96). Three unrealised projects (The Peak, Hong Kong, Zollhof 3, Dusseldorf, and the Cardiff Bay Opera House) mark the introduction before the reader is confronted with an impressive account of either built projects or ones that are currently under construction. Generous and large-scale photographs, drawings, renderings, plans and models emphasise the visual power of each project. A few columns of text provide the essential background information and establish cross-references to the other volumes.

'Project Documentations' is the central booklet as it contains images and information on all of Hadid's projects to date. In a brave attempt at coming to grips with her architectural language, thematic and evocative chapter headings are introduced: Explosions, Swarms, Aggregations, Pixelations, Calligraphy, Carved Spaces, Liquid Spaces and so on--a rather random selection of terminology, given that most of the projects bear the hallmarks of more than one of the above characteristics. Nevertheless they guide the overwhelmed reader through a myriad of shapes, forms, surfaces and spaces.

The volumes 'Essays' and 'Sketches' serve to complement this total view of Zaha Hadid's architectural universe--a comprehensive vision that had been lacking so far.