Zaha Hadid has received the Jane Drew Prize for her journey as a female architect after more than 50% of women who were quizzed during the AJ Women in Architecture Survey listed Hadid as ‘having made the greatest contribution to the status of women in architecture’. The Jane Drew Prize is awarded in memory of the English architect and planner and recognises the inclusiveness, collaborative abilities, innovation and diversity of an architect’s work. The award can be presented to either men or women for their services to bolstering the role of women in architecture in the UK.

Speaking on their selection of Hadid for the Jane Drew Prize, the judges explained: “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.”

The gender issues surrounding awards for women in architecture are thrashed out in a recent comment piece by WAN’s Caroline Stephens which can be viewed here.