Zaha Hadid Buys the Design Museum in London for Over $12 Million

She's ballin out of control.

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Zaha Hadid Architects has bought the building that used to house the Design Museum's Shad Thames building in London. The structure will be used by the Pritzker-Prize winning practice to hold her extensive archive as well as for architectural exhibitions. The space was converted from a banana warehouse into a gallery in the late '80s. Yes, banana warehouse.

The building didn't come cheap; Zaha Hadid Architects reportedly spent £10 million for the acquisition ($12,870,000). The museum, which has been in the building for 24 years, will move to The Commonwealth Institute located around 5 miles west. The Design Museum will stay in the building until the big move in 2015.

"Whilst we are sad to be leaving Shad Thames we are leaving the building in the best possible hands," Deyan Sudjic, the museum's director, said. "The sale is a significant moment in the museum's relocation plans and a substantial contribution towards our new home." Hadid said the building is meant "to consolidate our archive in a single location," making space for the her business to explore "the research and innovation of global collaborations in art, architecture and design."

[viaPhaidon / Guardian]

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