Zaha Hadid Architects has an impressive back catalog of work and is responsible for some of the world's most ambitious architecture of recent years. However, the firm's latest project is, on the face of it at least, a bit of a head-scratcher.
The H-Line hat was created by current ZHA boss and longtime Zaha Hadid collaborator Patrik Schumacher. Colored blue and white, its design is inspired by the fluid lines of the 520 West 28th's facade. According to DesignBoom, it was created using 3D-printing technology.
The hat isn't the start of a new focus on fashion for ZHA but rather was created for a good cause. The Friends of the High Line organization was founded in 1999 by community residents to preserve and transform an abandoned freight rail line under threat of demolition into a public park. The group's remarkable success has resulted in lots of new green areas being added to NYC and also inspired similar projects around the world, including MVRDV's Seoul Skygarden.
To celebrate this success and raise some money, Friends of the High Line is throwing itself a party tomorrow, June 14, that encourages guests to showcase their creativity with a hat-themed dress code. Custom-made hats are being auctioned to raise money too, though it's not clear if ZHA's hat will be available for bidding.
This kind of thing isn't totally unprecedented for ZHA and the firm has form for producing fun minor works like this for a good cause, including, most recently, a dog shelter.
Source: Zaha Hadid Architects
