Board Director
BES, BArch, MSc, D.I.C., CEng, MIStructE, RIBA
London, UK
Charles Walker
Photograph by Frederic Aranda ©
Photograph by Hufton + Crow
Charles joined ZHA in 2007. He oversees a significant portion of ZHA’s work in China and the Middle East. He has directed groundbreaking projects across a range of typologies, including aviation, infrastructure, research, masterplanning, cultural institutions, and bridge design. His notable aviation projects include the Beijing Daxing International Airport in China and Navi Mumbai International Airport in India. Additionally, he directed the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. And his interest in large-scale infrastructure has led him to direct the Danjiang Bridge in Taipei — the world’s largest asymmetrical cable-stay bridge.
Prior to joining ZHA, Charles worked at Ove Arup and Partners, where he founded the Advanced Geometry Unit. He played a leading role in establishing the unit’s reputation for innovative design and engineering projects.
Courtesy of ZHA, render by MIR
Danjiang Bridge by Zaha Hadid Architects, render by MIR
Featured Projects
From a single mast designed bridge that will improve traffic congestion and enhance accessibility in Taipei, to a new airport in the Daxing district 46km south of the city centre, discover highlights of Charles' notable projects at ZHA.
Photograph by Hufton + Crow
Charles completed his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Waterloo in Canada and his Master of Science in Structural Engineering at Imperial College London.
Charles has led an Intermediate Unit at the Architectural Association (AA) from 2003 to 2010, where he founded the annual pavilion programme. He was a Visiting International Professor in Emerging Technologies at TU Munich in 2010 and served as Head of Programme in Architecture at the Royal College of Art in London between 2011 and 2014.
Projects
Explore a selection of projects Charles has contributed to since joining ZHA.
Courtesy of ZHA, render by VA-render
Danjiang Bridge by Zaha Hadid Architects, render by VisualArch
Transport + Infrastructure
Spanning the mouth of the Tamsui River that flows through Taipei, the Danjiang Bridge is integral to the infrastructure upgrading program of northern Taiwan. The new bridge will reduce through-traffic on congested local roads by linking Highway 2 on the river’s eastern side with Highway 15, the West Coast Expressway (Route 61) and the Bali-Xindian Expressway (Route 64) on the western side.
Photograph by Hufton + Crow
Transport + Infrastructure
Beijing Daxing International Airport is a new airport in the Daxing district 46km south of the city centre (20 minutes by express train).
Culture
A fluid sculptural form inspired by the Bouregreg River between the ancient cities of Rabat and Salé. Incorporating an 1800-seat theatre, a 7,000 person amphitheatre and an experimental performance space.
Photograph by Luke Hayes
Education
Culture
Mathematics: The Winton Gallery brings together remarkable stories, historical artefacts and design to highlight the central role of mathematical practice in all our lives, and explores how mathematicians, their tools and ideas have helped build the modern world over the past four centuries.
Photograph by Luke Hayes
Culture
Heritage + Regeneration
The Serpentine North Gallery consists of two distinct parts, namely the conversion of a classical 19th century brick structure – The Magazine – and a 21st century tensile structure. The Serpentine North Gallery is thus – after MAXXI in Rome – the second art space where ZHA has created a synthesis of old and new.
Render by Negativ
West elevation
Tall Buildings
Residential
The renovation and redevelopment of Mercury House integrates residential apartments and a boutique hotel within Malta’s most dynamic urban environment. Creating new public spaces and amenities for the island’s residents and visitors, the design responds to Paceville’s key urban challenges by investing in its civic realm and increasing its limited housing supply.
Photograph by Hufton + Crow
Offices
Powered by its solar array and equipped with next-generation technologies for operations at LEED Platinum standards, the new BEEAH Headquarters has been designed to achieve net-zero and will be the group’s management and administrative centre that sets a new benchmark for future workplaces.
Photograph by Julian Faulhaber
Education
Offices
KAPSARC is a non-profit institution for independent research into policies that contribute to the most effective use of energy to provide social well-being across the globe. KAPSARC develops policies and economic frameworks that reduce the environmental impact and overall costs of energy supply and enable practical technology-based solutions to use energy more efficiently.
Render by TegMark
Architecture
Masterplans
Designed by ZHA, the masterplan for Khalid Bin Sultan City is adjacent to BEEAH’s acclaimed headquarters in Sharjah.
Render by X-Universe
Transport + Infrastructure
Phase One of the new Bishoftu International Airport (BIA) will serve 60 million passengers a year. Further phases will serve up to 110 million passengers annually with four runways and parking for 270 aircraft.
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