Zaha Hadid Architects Drops Founder's Name in Major Rebrand

Zaha Hadid Architects has rebranded to ZHA following the end of a licensing agreement with the Zaha Hadid Foundation. The change comes after a court battle that saw the practice pay £21.4 million in royalties between 2018 and 2024 for continued use of the founder’s name.

Patrik Schumacher, who has led the firm since Hadid’s death in 2016, announced the move in an Instagram post and video at the weekend.

The practice also launched a refreshed website under the new name. Schumacher described it as a natural evolution to a more collective identity as the last projects directly overseen by Hadid near completion.

Hadid, who broke barriers as a woman in a male-dominated field and won the Pritzker Prize in 2004, built a global reputation for fluid, parametric designs that pushed engineering limits.

Her legacy includes landmark structures such as the MAXXI Museum in Rome, the Guangzhou Opera House and the London Aquatics Centre built for the 2012 Olympics. For more on her journey from being dismissed by critics to international acclaim, read our earlier feature: Zaha Hadid: The Female Architect Critics Called Impossible Before She Conquered the World With Daring Designs.

The firm, placed under an employee-benefit trust in 2021, employs around 500 staff worldwide. It continues delivering major commissions. Current projects include the Bishoftu International Airport in Ethiopia, now under construction, the Qiantang Bay Cultural District in Hangzhou, China, and multiple developments in the Greater Bay Area. The practice has more than 30 projects under construction globally.

Schumacher emphasised continuity with Hadid’s vision of fluid and adaptive architecture while advancing it through new work. The firm has disclaimed any ongoing connection with the Zaha Hadid Foundation after the licence termination in 2025.

The rebrand reflects how leading architectural practices often evolve after the passing of their founding figures, balancing legacy with fresh direction under new leadership.