Prima contains ve highly polished components with angled planes in gun-smoke metal.

CONCEPTUALISTS WITH A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

t is no secret that Swarovksi is an unfaltering supporter of design and architectures leading talents; most recently architect Asif Khan and designer John Pawson. Now, they have commissioned Zaha Hadid to create a celebratory installation to mark the twenty year anniversary of her first project, to be placed at its original site - the Vitra Fire Station in Germany. The installation, Prima, is an angular piece made from five highly polished modular components that can be configured at will. Typical of her work, it is dynamic, three dimensional and mysterious. While complex and undecipherable its inherently useful the surfaces reflect the landscape and the building structure, yet are moveable seats for visitors, while hidden LEDs illuminate it at night. Im equally proud of all my projects as they each represent different times of my career and periods of research, but I have a particular affection for Vitra Fire Station as it was my first, Zaha explains, citing the support of Vitra Chairman Rolf Fehlbaum as crucial to its success. Returning to Vitra to work with Swarovski has been a very rewarding experience. Nadia Swarovski, who had previously commissioned Hadid to create her first jewellery collection for Atelier Swarovski, puts it in a nutshell: Zaha is an astonishing force of nature who imparts her designs with power and grace in equal measure. Prima is a dramatic sculptural installation half art, half furniture and stunningly beautiful. Well said.

Modular seating with a difference

Zaha is an astonishing force of nature who imparts her designs with power and grace in equal measure.
NADIA SWAROVSKI
Harpers BAZAAR INTERIORS |61