What Zaha Hadid Taught Me: Sebastián Andia of ZHA on AI, Creativity & the Future of Architecture

What was it really like to work with Zaha Hadid? And is artificial intelligence changing architecture for the better, or threatening the creativity that defines it?

In Episode 78 of Designing Forward, host Hamid Hasanzade, founder of Parametric Architecture and PAACADEMY, sits down with Sebastián Andia, architect and designer at ZHA (formerly Zaha Hadid Architects), for an in-depth conversation about working directly with Zaha Hadid, the evolution of computational design, AI in architecture, and the future of the profession.

Having joined ZHA in 2012, Sebastián has contributed to major international projects, including the Taikang Financial Centre in Wuhan and the Nanjing International Youth Cultural Centre in China. His career also spans furniture design, digital fabrication, and experimental manufacturing, including collaborations with Nagami.

In this conversation, Sebastián shares personal memories of working alongside Zaha Hadid, the lessons he learned from her creative process, and how ZHA's design philosophy has evolved since her passing.

In this episode, we explore:

• What it was really like to work with Zaha Hadid and learn from her design philosophy.
• Sebastián's journey from Argentina to Asymptote Architecture in New York and ZHA in London.
• The design and development of the Taikang Financial Centre and Nanjing International Youth Cultural Centre.
• How ambitious architectural concepts become real buildings.
• The evolution of Zaha Hadid Architects after 2016.
• Whether AI is enhancing architectural creativity or replacing essential parts of the design process.
• The relationship between computational design, digital fabrication, and human imagination.
• What architecture students should learn in the age of artificial intelligence.
• Sebastián's advice for the next generation of architects and designers.

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About Our Guest:

Sebastián Andia is an Argentinian architect and designer based in London. He has worked at Zaha Hadid Architects since 2012, contributing to architecture, masterplanning, interiors, furniture, and product design. He has also taught at the Architectural Association and the Bartlett School of Architecture at UCL for more than a decade.

ZHA's Website: zha.com/

Follow Sebastian on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sebandia/

Follow Sebastian on Instagram: instagram.com/sebastian.andia/

About Designing Forward: