Patrik Schumacher removes Zaha Hadid's name as studio rebrands to ZHA
Zaha Hadid Architects principal Patrik Schumacher has announced that the studio is officially being renamed ZHA, following the conclusion of a legal battle.
Schumacher announced the studio's new name, which he described as a "natural brand evolution", in an Instagram post.
"I'm so proud and excited to announce that we will be trading the new name ZHA, and also with a new registered company named ZHA Architects Limited," he said.
"This is 10 years after Zaha's passing. We feel it's very natural brand evolution to move to a more collective identity."
"A new chapter"
Schumacher said the move feels like a natural next step as Zaha Hadid's final projects near completion.
"Of course, we love Zaha, and we've been working with her, the leadership, and myself, of course, for many decades, collaborating and working on these projects, but she's no longer with us – in spirit only – and we have a lot of new projects coming out," he said.
"We're operating across six continents with 100 projects in development and construction. ZHA means a new stage, a new chapter"
The announcement follows the conclusion of a legal battle between the studio and the Zaha Hadid Foundation over the use of Hadid's name.
In February, the Court of Appeal overruled a High Court judgement from 2024 over a licensing agreement, which required the architecture studio to retain Hadid's name and pay the foundation six per cent of its annual revenue to use it.
The ruling by Justice Colin Birss allowed Schumacher to either renegotiate the licensing contract or change the name of the studio.
It appears that Schumacher has chosen to rename, rather than renegotiate the agreement.
Along with the rebrand, the studio launched a new website. The website includes a statement highlighting that the studio has ended its licensing agreement with the Zaha Hadid Foundation.
"ZHA and ZHA Architects are trade marks of ZHA Architects Limited, a company based in London, UK and owned by its employees," it said.
"ZHA Architects Group previously traded under a trade mark licence from the Zaha Hadid Foundation. Following the termination of the licence in 2025 the ZHA Architects Group ceased all use of that trade mark and disclaims any connection with the foundation."
The studio recently unveiled plans for a housing development in Tirana with overhanging balconies and a 47-story-tall skyscraper in Taipei that draws on the shape of a fluted orchid.
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