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Pardon us for an overdose of Zaha Hadid news, so much so that you might think it was one of those unofficial fan websites dedicated to one of the busiest architects of our times. We can’t help it though when you have the 2004 Pritzker Prize winner super busy designing everything from buildings to shoes to furniture all across the globe.

So if you ever wanted to see all of Zaha Hadid’s works at one place- architectural, industrial design as well as fashion, head to the Palazzo della Ragione in Padua, Italy, where a major retrospective on the works of Zaha Hadid Architects is currently on display. The exhibition examines the practice’s continued experimentation and research into digital design and construction methods at the cutting edge of the industry.

Palazzo della Ragione, Padua

Excerpts from the press release: The salone of Palazzo della Ragione (constructed 1172-1219) is considered one of the most notable monuments in Padua. Its medieval roof remains amongst the largest in Europe unsupported by columns, whilst the frescoes that adorn the interior walls date from 1425. As with each of her projects, Hadid has organized this exhibition as a direct response to its environment within the salone, articulating the inherent contextual relationships of her work.

Genesy lamp for Artemide

The historic qualities of the space presented an exacting design challenge for Hadid. The exhibition design respects these spatial and contextual characteristics whilst also intervening in the unique manner of Hadid’s digital, liquid fluidity. Conceived as an interior urban landscape, the exhibition should be considered as a large scale installation; a pixilated field defined by algorithmic formulae that introduce complexity and generate an interior urban condition. Space has been organized as a single fluid landscape with connecting individual fragments and clusters.

To coincide with the exhibition, Zaha Hadid Architects have designed a 20 metre long wooden table with seating for Cavour Square in Padua.

BMW Plant, Leipzig

Mesa table for Vitra
In continuing the research on innovative materials and challenging building techniques a traditional construction material has been completely reinvented. The object is designed to challenge the usual perception of wood as a sheet or stick material, rediscovering the sculptural potential of the wooden mass. A large block of wood is carved out by dynamic forces to create an undulating structure, installed as a large scale piece of urban furniture which will attract and surprise the pedestrian flow around it. Seating areas as well as displays are provided within the sculpture.

Moon System for B&B Italia
The top undulating surface is panelised to generate a series of elements that can display architectural projects, as it will be used to showcase the winners of the 2009 Barbara Cappochin Biennale. The digital three-dimensional file of the design by Zaha Hadid Architects has been engineered and created by the main contractor, Ar.Te, which printed the table, sculpting out the large wooden structure. The piece is subdivided into modules, allowing it to be transported to several locations worldwide after the 2009 Biennale.

ZAHA HADID RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION runs at Palazzo della Ragione, Padua, Italy as part of the Barbara Cappochin Biennale, 4th Edition until 1 March 2010.