Architect Zaha Hadid Designs Wild, Innovative, Limited Edition Nova Shoes For United Nude.

Pritker Prize winning architect Zaha Hadid teamed up with Rem d Koolhaas of United Nude to create Nova, a $2,000 limited edition haute couture shoe available in Black, Silver or Rose Chromed Vinyl and Carbon Fibre.



Zaha Hadid and UN’s Creative director Rem d Koolhaas have been talking about shoes since they first met years ago. Hadid, an architect with a passion for shoes, and Rem D, the original shoe architect, agreed to collaborate on the design of a shoe with no pre-conceptions and ignore all the rules to create an entirely new form of shoe.


above: Zaha Hadid at the launch of the shoe at L'eclaireur, Paris

The result is quintessentially Hadid. The revolutionary design of the NOVA shoe combines innovative materialization and ergonomic considerations with the dynamism of Hadid’s unmistakable architectural language to convey an inherent sense of movement; revealing the experimentation and invention of Hadid’s process through every stage of design and construction.

The NOVA Shoe in Black Chromed Vinyl and Carbon Fiber:






United nude’s advanced shoe engineering and hadid’s remarkable design have combined in a most revolutionary shoe, for which an entirely new way of shoe making was invented. Techniques such as injection- and rotation molding, as well as hand-molded methods, such as vacuum casting, were combined.




In fact, the NOVA is among the first shoes in history to employ rotation molding, which is the only molding technique that allows for such a smooth and seamless result.



above: The Nova Shoe launch at L'eclaireur, Paris

The upper of the shoe combines metallic chromed vinyl rubber and is lined with the highest quality Italian kid nappa leathers. The hidden platform and heel are composed of fiberglass and the outsole is made of rubber.

The NOVA Shoe in Rose Gold Chromed Vinyl and Carbon Fiber:






“United Nude’s collections are provocative yet sensual. Rem D Koolhaas’ unrelenting experimentation at the cutting edge of fashion never fails to capture our imagination.” explains Hadid. “I have always appreciated those who dare to experiment with materials and proportions. Our collaboration with United Nude reinterprets the classic shoe typology; pushing the boundaries of what is possible without compromising integrity.”

The NOVA design incorporates intricate striations juxtaposed with dramatic realignments, establishing a direct formal relationship with the shoe’s primary structure and expressing the dynamic forces applied by every step of the wearer.

The NOVA Shoe in Silver Chromed Vinyl and Carbon Fiber:






Guided by her 30 years of experience working with complex structural principles on all scale levels, Hadid has developed an innovative cantilevered system that allows the staggering 16cm (6.25 in) heel to appear completely unsupported.

The rhythmic, articulated transformation of the shoe’s composition encapsulates the seamless integration of materials, inventive engineering and highest standards of comfort. As Hadid’s most recent expression of this symbiotic association, the NOVA shoe design transcends the disciplines of fashion and architecture.

The making of the shoe:




“Zaha consistently reinvents the program with her own ideas and interpretations. Her visionary creations are often unexpected, yet reinforce their origins,” says Koolhaas. “I could not resist the challenge to work with Zaha. We gave ourselves the greatest degree of experimentation and used the latest digital design and manufacturing technologies to create one of the most innovative shoes ever produced.”



Credits:
Design: Zaha Hadid with Patrik Schumacher
Design Team: Maren Klasing, Maha Kutay, Woody Yao

The shoe, in sizes 35 to 40, will come as numbered limited editions of 100 per color and is available only at very select stores such as L’eclaireur in Paris and both the Zaha Hadid design and United Nude webshops.

Architect Zaha Hadid Kicks Up Her Heels, Or Lack Thereof- Again.

Architect Zaha Hadid has collaborated with Lacoste for a new line of shoes for men and women. Not her first foray into shoes, she collaborated with Melissa of Brazil to bring us her version of molded plastic shoes in September of 2008.

Her shoes for French iconic brand Lacoste are leather, unisex and have Hadid's recognizable twisting structure. The women's are available in purple or black and the men's in black or navy.




In addition, a special limited edition (850 pairs) of boots for women, shown below, will be available at select boutiques like Colette in France, beginning July 20th.




press release:
Lacoste presents a collection of shoes by architect Zaha Hadid. Born from a digital interpretation of the iconic logo of the brand, the shoes are crafted from Italian calf leather and printed in relief realized by heated metal plates. “Wrapped around the foot, these shoes adapt in an ergonomic way to the shapes of the body" explains Zaha Hadid.



ZAHA HADID FOR LACOSTE


The Zaha Hadid for Lacoste footwear collaboration began with a digitized interpretation of the iconic crocodile logo. Hadid’s research team then used this as a basis to explore a series of surfaces with repeated patterns. ‘The design expression behind the collaboration with Lacoste footwear allows the evolution of dynamic fluid grids,’ explains Hadid. ‘When wrapped around the shape of a foot, these expand and contract to negotiate and adapt to the body ergonomically. In doing so a landscape emerges, undulating and radiating as it merges seamlessly with the body.’



To achieve this tactile landscape effect, Zaha’s team designed a series of metal plates depicting the desired wave pattern. These plates were subsequently utilised to apply a combination of heat embossing and debossing techniques to the calf leather, thus rendering the topography in relief. The effect is visible on the uppers, curving around the top of the toe, and on the exterior fascia of each shoe. A similar pattern is replicated on the sole of the shoe, crafted of moulded rubber, which is designed to reflect points at which the foot naturally exerts pressure. The heel itself is the minimum depth possible in footwear construction, emphasizing the slender and streamlined profile of the design.




The shoes also feature the unique Zaha Hadid for Lacoste logo, visibly wrapped around the side of the heel and on the in-sock. The sleek and sophisticated black box which packages the product also bears an embossed version of the same logo. The shoes are unisex in design; the women’s are available in black and purple, whilst the men’s come in black and navy. A limited-edition boot version of the Zaha Hadid for LACOSTE shoe will be available exclusively at such high-end boutiques as Colette in Paris, Dover Street Market in London and 10 Corso Como in Milan in July 2009 as a preview. The main shoe line will be appearing in stores worldwide from September 2009. This exclusive collaboration will be highlighted in store by a suite of bespoke material designed to compliment and enhance the themes and colours of the project.

the above images are courtesy of Lacoste.

This is not the first time Zaha Hadid has designed shoes, in her signature style, she created a collection for the Brazil brand of plastic shoes, Melissa:



above images courtesy of dezeen.

Read all about Melissa shoes here.

Not the only Architect to get into the shoe game, United Nude is an unusual brand of shoes by architect Rem D. Koolhaas and partner, Galahad JD Clark. learn about them here.


above: the Ultra Mobius, another shoe designed by an architect.