Is architecture life like a bamboo tree?
It is said that the 'Chinese Bamboo Tree' is a peculiar species. Like all other plants, it requires nurturing (water, fertile soil, sunshine...). However, with all these continuous efforts, nothing seems to appear above the ground! One year passes, the second one, then another...and still not even a sprout! Suddenly, during the fifth year, the bamboo appears and starts growing at a phenomenal speed, reaching 25 meters in just 6 weeks. Crazy, right?
This inspirational story reminded me of the architect Zaha Hadid. We probably all know her legendary buildings! She was the first woman to have won the Pritzker Prize in 2004. The interesting fact is that her first building ever realized was the Vitra Fire Station in 1994 when she 44 years old. In just 20-ish years after that, her firm grew and realized 950 projects in over 44 countries! And she won an award every year since 2000, winning up to 12 awards in one year!
Having to wait 44 years to see all your architecture plans in real life, for once. And then, 950 projects so fast! The secret? Just like the roots of the bamboo tree that were developing slowly underground to support the fast growth, I'm pretty convinced that the real secret lies in those 44 years...
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