Beyond the Curve: Saman Dadgostar on the Evolving Practice of Zaha Hadid Architects

Beyond the Curve: Saman Dadgostar on the Evolving Practice of Zaha Hadid Architects - interview by Milica Radeč & Amandine Velakoulis 

With such rapid advancements in technology and changing environmental considerations, how do you envision the future of architectural design at a firm that is renowned for its constant  innovations? 

That's a very good question, and not necessarily a concern, but something that we're supposed to think and talk about a lot. Are humans still as valuable as they were before all AI driven softwares? We used Midjourney for some of our projects, and although it gave us lots of opportunities, we still needed human brains and design ideas before even trying to get results; otherwise, the ideas became repetitive nonsense. For example, for the software to give us the best result possible, it needs a lot of human input on culture, context, restrictions and designs. That's the core reason why AI cannot replace us.  

These tools are incredibly useful, but they still rely on human creativity and intent to reflect our ideas and produce meaningful results. We shouldn’t abandon them or resist their use, but we also shouldn’t become complacent and expect them to design for us. Instead, we should treat them as supportive instruments that enhance our ideas and allow us to get quicker, more insightful feedback during the design process. 

The Daxia tower incorporates various sustainable features; Could you elaborate on how these were integrated into the design process and the challenges you may have faced trying to implement them? 

Sustainability and other aspects of the tower’s energy use were more thoroughly addressed after we won the competition. We conducted several in-depth analyses of our design and re-considered all aspects of the space. It  was funny because in the end, the design of the tower didn’t drastically change. The form itself and its openings were adjusted to create a more sustainably sophisticated design that took the building’s solar gain into consideration. All other refinements were smaller things that you wouldn’t be able to explicitly tell had been adjusted. The biggest challenge that arose was navigating the cutout for the atrium. The building has a narrow footprint and a central core, which meant we had to make sure we weren’t losing too much area inside the building when trying to implement it. Once we had determined that our design had enough efficient floor space, the atrium was successfully constructed, adding a unique feature to the tower. 

Was there a drastic shift after Zaha’s passing, regarding the aesthetic of the projects and how  did/do you honour her legacy? 

It was definitely a concern that the aesthetic of the projects would change after Zaha’s passing, but it didn’t at all. This is because, even when Zaha was alive, she trusted us to bring designs to life. We would show her the process and the resolution, and she would either confirm it, or question it. It may not have been obvious from the outside, but inside the office she was allowing us to start becoming independent from her, so, for us, it wasn’t such a drastic change; things came naturally. We made sure that we stayed true to the spirit she had built, by revisiting her paintings and her work. We listen to her videos repeatedly. Even things like the font and graphics we use in the  office always refer to her paintings and early work, because the script is there, we just make sure to bring the same energy to the projects, as she would have wanted. 

What is your advice for young architects? 

I would say my biggest piece of advice is to keep alert and open your minds; be open to the opportunities around you and learn every day. Honestly, no matter how much you learn, it is not enough. I would tell you to dedicate a certain time of the day to recap new projects, if it’s not architecture, it could be fashion. Try to learn lots of new softwares even though you aren’t experienced or advanced. The key is consistency. You will understand how much you can learn, and how much more familiar you can get with the work of architecture. It is important to see new things and understand what is happening outside your own scope. This will help to inspire you. The more skillful you are, the more opportunities there are for you. It is all about the hard work, and I really emphasise the discipline you need to have from the early days. I would resemble the kind of dedication that an architect needs to a marathon runner – you must be hardworking.