That Awkward Moment When You’re Not Invited to the Opening of Your Own Building

Architizer News

That Awkward Moment When You’re Not Invited to the Opening of Your Own Building

May 17, 2012

Zaha Hadid in 2012 London Olympic Games Aquatics Center; Photo: David Yeo

Despite her astonishing success, numerous accolades, and fashionable notoriety as the world’s foremost architect, Zaha Hadid can’t seem to get any love from this summer’s Olympic Games. As she tells ES Magazine, the Games failed to extend to her an invitation to any of the opening or closing events, not even to the diving or swimming relays that will take place at the £269 million Aquatics Center that Hadid designed and built over an eight-year period. Zaha criticized Olympic organizers for the ostensible oversight, calling them “rude” and adding that “when you’ve designed a building like this you want to see how it’s used.”

When questioned about the debacle, Locog, the London Olympics’ event coordinator, referred to standard policy, advising that the most assured way to get passes was to go through the public application channels. Still, the episode has not abated the architect’s anticipation for the start of the Games. “Everybody is complaining but I think it’s going to be exciting.” Yes, everyone is complaining, and for good reason.

Into Zaha? Check out her Olympic Aquatics Center here.