Internationally-known architect Zaha Hadid gave a slide-show presentation of her work and discussed its underlying theory last night at the Graduate School of Design (GSD).

Some fans drove overnight from Ottawa to hear her talk. Nicole Riess, Terra Kitzul and Lynn Kasinska, all architecture students at the Canadian Carleton University, wanted to see her in person before studying in London--Hadid's home city--next year.

Jorge Silvetti, chair of the architecture department at the GSD, introduced Hadid's work to the crowd of 450 at Piper Auditorium as "suspicious, disturbing, but also alluring."

"It proves that architecture as a fine art has not run out of steam," he said.

Hadid, who is now a visiting scholar at Yale, spoke of her desire to lift buildings off the ground to create open public spaces at ground level. She likened the walls of her buildings to skin peeling off an onion.

Without a question and answer session, the lecture left a number of the audience still puzzled about aspects of Hadid's work.

"I wanted to ask her at what point she thinks about materials [she uses in her buildings]," said Wynne Mun, a GSD student.

Nonetheless, many said they were awed by Hadid's creations.