Santiago Calatrava
Early Life and Education
Santiago Calatrava Valls was born on July 28, 1951, in Benimàmet, a district of Valencia, Spain. He grew up in a comfortable, middle-class family involved in the agricultural export business. From a young age, he showed a strong aptitude for art and mathematics. He began his formal art training at the age of eight, attending the School of Arts and Crafts, where he learned drawing and painting.
His early education was broad and international. When he was 13, his family took advantage of the recent opening of Spain’s borders and sent him to Paris as an exchange student. He later traveled to Switzerland to complete his high school education. Upon returning to Valencia, he enrolled in the Polytechnic University of Valencia, where he earned a degree in architecture in 1974. During his time at the university, he also completed independent projects with a group of fellow students, publishing two books on the vernacular architecture of Valencia and Ibiza.
Calatrava’s interest, however, extended beyond traditional architecture. He was fascinated by the mathematical rigor of great historical structures and the work of engineers. This led him to pursue post-graduate studies in civil engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zürich, one of the world’s most prestigious engineering schools. He enrolled in 1975 and earned his first doctorate in 1979.
It was at the ETH that his unique artistic and structural vision began to coalesce. He was deeply influenced by the work of the Swiss engineer Robert Maillart, who was known for his elegant and expressive concrete bridges. Calatrava’s doctoral thesis, “On the Foldability of Space Frames,” explored the complex geometry of deployable structures, a theme that would recur in his later work.
During his time in Zürich, he also took on small engineering commissions and began to participate in design competitions. In 1981, after completing his second doctorate, he established his own architecture and engineering practice in Zürich. His first major commission was the design of the Stadelhofen railway station in Zürich, a project that showcased his ability to combine elegant, sculptural forms with sophisticated structural engineering.
Architectural Philosophy and Career
Santiago Calatrava’s architectural philosophy is a unique synthesis of art, architecture, and engineering. He is often described as a “structural expressionist,” and his work is characterized by its use of dynamic, sculptural forms that are inspired by nature and the human body.
His philosophy is rooted in the idea that architecture should be a form of public art, and that a building’s structure should be not just a technical necessity, but a source of beauty and meaning. He sees himself as both an artist and an engineer, and his design process often begins with a series of watercolor sketches that explore the conceptual and formal possibilities of a project.
Calatrava’s work is deeply influenced by the natural world. He has studied the anatomy of birds, the skeletons of animals, and the structure of plants, and he uses these organic forms as a source of inspiration for his buildings and bridges. His structures often have a zoomorphic or anthropomorphic quality, with forms that evoke the image of a bird’s wing, a human eye, or a spinal column.
He is a master of creating a sense of movement and dynamism in his work. Many of his buildings feature kinetic elements, such as operable roofs or movable sunscreens, that allow the building to change its form in response to the time of day or the weather. This interest in movement and transformation is a recurring theme in his work, and it reflects his belief that architecture should be a living, breathing thing.
Calatrava is known for his use of a limited palette of materials, primarily white-painted concrete and steel, and glass. He uses these materials to create a sense of lightness, elegance, and purity in his work. His structures are often skeletal and transparent, with a clear and legible expression of the forces at play.
His career has been a global one, with major projects in Europe, North America, and Asia. He has become one of the most famous and sought-after architects in the world, and he is known for his ability to create spectacular and iconic landmarks that can help to redefine the image of a city.
However, his work has also been the subject of controversy. He has been criticized for the high cost of his projects, for construction problems and delays, and for a perceived lack of concern for the functional and practical aspects of his buildings. His supporters, however, see him as a visionary artist who has brought a new sense of beauty, poetry, and excitement to the world of public architecture.
Notable and Famous Works
Santiago Calatrava’s portfolio is filled with dramatic and highly recognizable buildings and bridges that have become major landmarks.
The City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain, is his largest and most ambitious project. It is a vast cultural complex that was built over a decade and includes an opera house, a science museum, an aquarium, and a planetarium. The buildings are a stunning showcase of his signature style, with a series of dramatic, sculptural forms of white concrete and glass that are set in a landscape of reflecting pools.
The Milwaukee Art Museum Quadracci Pavilion (2001) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was his first major project in the United States. The building is a dramatic addition to the existing museum, and its most distinctive feature is the Burke Brise Soleil, a massive, wing-like sunscreen that opens and closes like the wings of a bird.
The World Trade Center Transportation Hub (2016) in New York City, also known as the “Oculus,” is one of his most famous and controversial works. The hub is a massive, cathedral-like space with a series of white, steel ribs that rise up to form a pair of “wings.” The building is meant to evoke the image of a bird being released from a child’s hands, and it is a powerful and uplifting symbol of the city’s rebirth after the 9/11 attacks.
The Turning Torso (2005) in Malmö, Sweden, is a residential skyscraper that is based on a sculpture by Calatrava called “Twisting Torso.” The 54-story tower is composed of nine stacked cubes that twist 90 degrees as they rise, creating a dramatic, sculptural form that has become a symbol of the city.
His bridges are also a key part of his work. The Alamillo Bridge (1992) in Seville, Spain, is a dramatic, cable-stayed bridge with a single, angled pylon that acts as a counterweight for the bridge deck. The Puente de la Mujer (2001) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is a pedestrian swing bridge that is meant to evoke the image of a couple dancing the tango.
Awards, Honors, and Legacy
Santiago Calatrava has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the AIA Gold Medal in 2005 and the Prince of Asturias Award for Arts in 1999. He is also a member of the Pontifical Council for Culture at the Vatican.
His legacy is that of a visionary artist-engineer who has pushed the boundaries of structural and formal expression. He has created a new and highly personal language of architecture, one that is both modern and timeless, both technologically advanced and deeply rooted in the traditions of art and nature.
He has redefined the role of the engineer in the architectural process, and he has shown that structure can be a source of great beauty and poetry. His buildings and bridges have become iconic landmarks and sources of civic pride for cities around the world.
While his work has not been without its critics, there is no denying its power and its popular appeal. He has brought a sense of drama, excitement, and wonder back to public architecture, and he has created some of the most memorable and inspiring spaces of our time. He is an architect who believes in the power of beauty, and his work is a testament to his belief that architecture, at its best, can be a form of public art that ennobles and uplifts the human spirit.