Friends of the late Zaha Hadid have written an open letter denouncing Patrik Schumacher for his attempt to legally change who controls her estate.
The letter sent to the Architects Newspaper – signed by friends, fellow and former students and employees of Hadid – claims the recent actions of the Zaha Hadid Architects director are the latest in a series of moves that contradict her wishes.
"What is not publicly known is the extent to which he [Schumacher] has been attempting to thwart Zaha's last wishes," reads the letter.
Its signatories are: Mya Manakides, Nicholas Boyarsky, Lisette Khalastchi, Robert Cole, Sand Helsel, Michael Wolfson, David Gommersal, Brian Ma Siy, Alastair Standing, Graham Modlen, Kathleen Peacock, Ban Shubber, Rodney Place and Miska Lovegrove. "Zaha's unique legacy must be protected"
It was revealed last week that Schumacher had gone to the high court to try get the the other three executors of Hadid's £70 million estate removed.
Hadid had named Schumacher an executor along with her niece Rana Hadid, artist Brian Clarke and former Arts Council chairman Peter Palumbo. The letter pledges support to this trio over Schumacher.
"We wish to express our utmost concern at the recent legal action by Patrik Schumacher against Zaha's fellow executors," reads the letter.
Schumacher said that claims he was trying to become sole executor of Hadid's estate for personal gain were "falsely r...