Zaha Hadid awarded the Jane Drew Prize for her outstanding contribution to the status of women in architecture
The award was initially introduced in 1998 as a tribute to Jane Drew, the
modernist English architect and town planner. It is awarded for respect of
innovation, diversity - extending traditional categories valued in architecture
- and inclusiveness - collaborative work - and is open to both men and women.
More than half of the women polled in the AJ Women in Architecture survey named
Hadid as having made the greatest contribution to the status of women in
architecture.
The judges said: ‘Hadid has broken the glass ceiling more than anyone and is
practically a household name. Her achievement is remarkable. She has
successfully fostered a studio which has grown to be one of the top ten largest
in the UK. The practice manages to be at the cutting edge of thinking,
influencing the teaching in architecture schools worldwide, while also winning
and delivering an impressive array of projects, from the London Olympic
Aquatics Centre to the Guangzhou Opera House.’
Hadid said: ‘Getting to where I am is hard. But it is do-able. Women architects do need some support from others who have made that journey.’