A new chapter may be on the horizon for Zaha Hadid Architects, one of contemporary architecture’s most iconic firms. The UK Court of Appeal has ruled that the practice, now led by Patrik Schumacher, is not permanently bound by the agreement governing the use of its founder’s name. The decision opens the door for the London-based studio to renegotiate—or even terminate—the licensing of the brand.
At the heart of the dispute is a 2013 contract signed while Hadid was still alive. The agreement allowed the firm to continue using her name worldwide in exchange for a 6% royalty, now paid to the Zaha Hadid Foundation, which manages the architect’s archive and cultural legacy. After Hadid’s death in 2016, the foundation continued to receive these royalties, with the studio reportedly paying more than £21 million since 2018 for the use of the name.
The legal question revolved around the contract’s duration.
In a 2024 ruling, the High Court had held that the agreement should continue indefinitely, effectively tying the firm to the founder’s name.
The Court of Appeal, however, overturned that interpretation: an “open-ended” contract does not automatically mean perpetual. According to the judges, both parties must have the right to terminate it with reasonable notice.
In practice, the firm can now negotiate new terms with the foundation—from the royalty percentage to the possibility of stepping away from the “Zaha Hadid” brand entirely.
Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum | Zaha Hadid Architects. Ph. © Virgile Simon Bertrand.
A Name That Became a Global Brand
Founded in 1979, the London studio has grown into an international network, with hundreds of projects across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Over the years, Zaha Hadid’s name has become a true brand of contemporary architecture, synonymous with a distinctive and globally recognizable design language.
This is why the issue extends beyond legalities. The ruling reignites a debate increasingly central to global architecture firms: how long can a practice remain tied to the founder’s name?
For now, Zaha Hadid Architects says its aim is not to erase the architect’s legacy, but to update an agreement considered outdated. The future of one of the most iconic names in modern architecture is, for now, still very much up for discussion.
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Cover image: Patrik Schumacher portrait
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