Santiago Calatrava facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Santiago Calatrava Valls
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Calatrava in 2010
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| Born | 28 July 1951 Valencia, Spain
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| Nationality | Spanish-Swiss |
| Education | Polytechnic University of Valencia Swiss Federal Institute of Technology |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Engineering career | |
| Discipline | Structural engineer, Architect, sculptor |
| Institutions | Institution of Structural Engineers |
| Practice name | Santiago Calatrava |
| Projects | Turning Torso Athens Olympic Sports Complex Auditorio de Tenerife Alamillo bridge Chords Bridge Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències Liège-Guillemins railway station Museum of Tomorrow World Trade Center station (PATH) Dubai Creek Tower St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (Manhattan) |
| Awards | European Prize for Architecture AIA Gold Medal IStructE Gold Medal Eugene McDermott Award Prince of Asturias Award Auguste Perret Prize |
Santiago Calatrava Valls (born 28 July 1951) is a famous Spanish-Swiss architect, engineer, sculptor, and painter. He is well-known for his amazing bridges that often have a single leaning support. He also designs railway stations, sports stadiums, and museums. His buildings often look like living things or sculptures.
Some of his most famous works include the Olympic Sports Complex in Athens, Greece, the Milwaukee Art Museum in the USA, and the Turning Torso tower in Sweden. He also designed the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in New York City and the City of Arts and Sciences in his hometown, Valencia, Spain. Calatrava has design offices in New York City, Doha, and Zurich.
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Santiago Calatrava's Early Life
Santiago Calatrava was born on July 28, 1951, in Benimàmet, a town now part of Valencia, Spain. His family name, Calatrava, was an old noble name from the Middle Ages in Spain.
He went to school in Valencia. From 1957, he also studied drawing and painting at an art school. In 1964, when Spain became more open to Europe, he went to France as an exchange student.
In 1968, after finishing high school, he tried to study at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. But there were student protests, so he went back home. In Valencia, he found a book about the architect Le Corbusier. This book made him realize he could be both an artist and an architect. He then joined the Higher School of Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Valencia. He earned his degree in architecture and also studied urban planning.
In 1975, he went to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. There, he earned a second degree in civil engineering. In 1981, he got his doctorate in architecture. His thesis was about how three-dimensional structures can bend. Calatrava was very interested in how gravity works and how simple shapes could create strong feelings. He was inspired by the engineer Robert Maillart, who showed him that "with a good mix of force and mass, you can create emotion."
First Projects and Global Recognition
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Zürich Stadelhofen railway station in Zurich. Switzerland (1983–90)
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Inside the Zürich Stadelhofen railway station in Zurich. Switzerland (1983–90)
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The Bac de Roda Bridge in Barcelona, Spain (1984–87): Calatrava's first bridge
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The Bac de Roda Bridge in Barcelona, Spain (1984–87)
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Lusitania Bridge, Mérida, Spain (1988–91)
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Puente del Alamillo Expo 92, Seville, Spain (1992)
After finishing his doctorate in 1981, Calatrava opened his own office in Zurich. He designed many buildings and bridges, but they were not built at first. In 1983, he started getting jobs for bigger industrial and transportation buildings.
He designed and built warehouses in Switzerland and Germany. He also worked on a post office in Lucerne, Switzerland, and a bus shelter. Then came bigger projects: a new hall for the railway station in Lucerne and a whole train station, the Zürich Stadelhofen railway station in Switzerland (1983–1990). This train station shows many of his unique design ideas. Straight lines are rare. The train platforms curve, the support columns lean, and the concrete walls have tear-shaped skylights.
In 1984–87, he built his first bridge, the Bac de Roda Bridge in Barcelona, Spain. This bridge made him famous around the world. It is 128 meters (420 feet) long and connects two parts of the city. The bridge has two arches that lean at a 30-degree angle. This leaning design quickly became Calatrava's special style. The top part of the bridge, made of steel arches and cables, looks light and delicate, like lace.
His next bridge, the Puente del Alamillo (1987–1992) in Seville, Spain, was even more amazing. It made his reputation even stronger. Built for the 1992 Expo 92, it is 200 meters (656 feet) long. It crosses the Meandro San Jeronimo River. Its main feature is a single tall support, 142 meters (466 feet) high, leaning at 58 degrees. This is the same angle as the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt! The heavy concrete of the support is enough to hold up the bridge with only thirteen pairs of cables.
Projects of the 1990s
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Montjuïc Communications Tower, Barcelona (1989–92)
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Atrium of Brookfield Place (Toronto), Ontario, Canada (1992)
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Llonja de Sant Jordi, Alcoy (Alicante), Spain (1992–95)
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Gare do Oriente, Lisbon, Portugal (1998)
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Bilbao Airport control tower (1990–2000)
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Bilbao Airport Passenger Terminal (1990–2000)
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Bilbao Airport Passenger Terminal (1990–2000)
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In the early 1990s, Calatrava built several amazing railway stations and bridges. He also started designing other types of buildings. These included a shopping center in Canada, a new airport terminal in Bilbao, and his first building in the United States, the Milwaukee Art Museum.
In 1992, he finished one of his most artistic works, the Montjuïc Communications Tower in Barcelona (1989–92). This graceful concrete tower is 136 meters (446 feet) high. It was built for the 1992 Olympics. The concrete tower leans back and seems to hold the antennas. It looks like an athlete about to throw a javelin. The round building at the base has broadcast equipment. It is covered in white bricks and has a metal part that looks like an eye opening and closing. The building also has colorful ceramic tiles, like those in Park Güell by Antonio Gaudi. The square next to it is like a giant sundial, with the tower's shadow telling the time.
In 1992, he also completed his first North American project, the Allen Lambert Galleria in Toronto, Canada. The inside of this shopping mall has a glass roof supported by columns that look like giant trees. It's a modern version of the old Les Halles market in Paris.
Gare de Lyon Saint-Exupéry (1989–1994) and the Eastern Train Station in Lisbon (1992–98)
Two years later, in 1994, he finished another important train station, the Gare de Lyon Saint-Exupéry (1989–1994) at the Lyon airport in Satolas. This building was designed to connect the airport and train station. It was also a terminal for high-speed TGV trains and a symbol for the Rhone-Alps Region. The station is covered by a huge steel and glass shell, 120 by 100 meters (394 by 328 feet). It is 40 meters (131 feet) high and weighs 1,300 tons. A 180-meter (591-foot) long glass and concrete bridge connects it to the airport terminal. The inside of the terminal, with its glass and steel, looks like a modern cathedral. The glass panels at the top are meant to look like flight. From the outside, the station has been compared to a prehistoric animal, and the bridge to a bird or a manta ray.
The Gare do Oriente, or eastern train station, was built for the 1998 Lisbon World Exposition. It is in an old industrial area. It was designed to connect the city's homes to the Tagus River. Like the Toronto galleria, but much bigger, the station's inside has many white columns that look like giant trees. These trees support the glass roof, which is 238 by 78 meters (781 by 256 feet) and covers eight train tracks. The station also has a shopping center and connections to trams and the metro. With its many arches and curves, the building looks like it's moving and ready to take off.
Bilbao Airport (1990–2000)
One of his last projects in the 20th century was the Bilbao Airport in Spain. It is known for its unusual control tower, which is 42 meters (138 feet) high. It is made of concrete covered with aluminum and gets wider as it goes up. It looks like a statue holding its hands in front of it. The terminal buildings also lift upwards and seem to be trying to take off. This look gave the airport the nickname "The Dove."
Museums, Concert Halls, and Skyscrapers (2000–2010)
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The Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1994–2001)
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Bodegas Ysios winery in Laguardia, Spain (1998–2001)
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Auditorio de Tenerife in the Canary Islands (1991–2003)
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Turning Torso in Malmö, Sweden (1999–2004)
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Science Museum in Valencia, Spain (1994–2000)
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The City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain (1991–2006)
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Palace of the Arts in Valencia (2006)
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After 2000, Calatrava finished new parts for the Milwaukee Art Museum. He also built a concert hall in the Canary Islands, a twisting skyscraper in Sweden, and the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain. All these buildings have amazing shapes and seem to be moving.
Milwaukee Art Museum (1994–2001)
The Quadracci Pavilion of the Milwaukee Art Museum (1994–2001) was Calatrava's first building in the United States. It was also his first museum. It showed off the new ideas and shapes he had used in his train stations and airports, but with more artistic freedom. This new part was added to an older building. The museum wanted a new entrance and a strong new look.
Calatrava's design was chosen from many others. He created a glass and steel entry hall 2 meters (7 feet) high with a roof that could move. This roof has two large wings made of twenty-six smaller wings, each 8 to 32 meters (26 to 105 feet) long. The roof, which weighs 115 tons, can be lifted up by a single support, like a giant bird's wing. It can be lowered when the wind from the lake is too strong. Inside, there is a conference hall, exhibit space, shops, and a restaurant with a view of the lake. He also designed a walking bridge between the city center and the lake.
Bodegas Ysios Winery (1998–2001)
The Bodegas Ysios winery in Laguardia, Spain (1998–2001) was designed to be a symbol for the Rioja wines made there. The 196-meter (643-foot) long building has an aluminum roof and a front covered with wood panels. These panels go in and out, making the roofline look like a series of waves.
Auditorio de Tenerife (1991–2003)
The Auditorio de Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, is a concert hall with 1,558 seats and a smaller hall with 428 seats. It has a curving concrete dome 60 meters (197 feet) high, topped with a roof that looks like a breaking wave. It stands out in the city square. The outside is covered with ceramic tiles, and the floors are made of local basalt stone. The building's unique shape makes it look different from every angle.
Turning Torso (1999–2004)
The Turning Torso in Malmö, Sweden, was Calatrava's first skyscraper. It was also the world's first twisting skyscraper. This twisting shape later appeared in other cities around the world. Calatrava first imagined the building as a sculpture of "seven cubes stacked on a steel support creating a spiral structure like a twisting spine." The tower is 190 meters (623 feet) high and twists a full 90 degrees from bottom to top. Each of the nine cubes is like a separate five-story building, with one to five apartments on each floor. The central column with elevators and escalators holds the building together. In 2016, it was the tallest building in Scandinavia.
Athens Olympic Sports Complex (2001–2004)
For the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, Calatrava was asked to add a new roof to the existing stadium and a similar roof for the velodrome (a cycling track). He also built four entrance gates and a large sculpture to represent the games. The stadium's roof, made of bent glass "leaves," reflects 90 percent of sunlight. The roof covers 25,000 square meters (269,098 square feet). It is supported by steel arches, 304 meters (997 feet) wide and 60 meters (197 feet) high. The velodrome has a white cap supported by two concrete arches 45 meters (148 feet) high, weighing 4,000 tons. Calatrava also designed a huge arch at the entrance and the Wall of Nations, a moving sculpture of steel that moves like waves.
City of Arts and Sciences and Opera House in Valencia (1991–2006)
The largest group of buildings by Calatrava is in his hometown, Valencia, Spain. It took over ten years to build. This includes the City of Arts and Sciences (1991–2000) and the Opera House (1996–2006). They are built on 35 hectares (86 acres) of land between a highway and a river. The L'Hemisfèric, which looks like a half-sunken globe, is in the center next to a large artificial lake. Its metal screen opens and closes, and the entrance looks like a human eye. On one side is the science museum, and on the other is the opera house. Calatrava described the opera house as a "monumental sculpture" that looks like it's always moving.
Liège-Guillemins Railway Station (2009)
The Liège-Guillemins railway station for high-speed trains in Liège, Belgium, has a roof of glass and steel that looks like lace. It is 160 meters (525 feet) long and 32 meters (105 feet) high, covering nine tracks and five platforms. The clear roof makes it feel like there is no difference between being inside and outside.
Recent Major Projects (2011–)
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Palace of Congresses in Oviedo, Spain (2000–2011)
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Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas, Texas (2012)
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Peace Bridge in Calgary, Canada (2012)
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The Innovation, Science, and Technology (IST) Building of the Florida Polytechnic University (2014)
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Interior of the Innovation, Science and Technology (IST) building at Florida Polytechnic University (2014)
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Museum of Tomorrow, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2015)
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Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2015)
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The World Trade Center Transportation Hub in New York City (2016)
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Interior of the Oculus of the World Trade Center Transportation Hub (2016)
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Oviedo Conference Center (2000–2011)
The conference center and exhibition hall in Oviedo, Spain, combines two office buildings and a hotel. It has horizontal bands of glass and steel and sits on curving concrete supports. The main conference area is oval-shaped and includes a theater, exhibition hall, and seminar rooms. The ceiling of the concert hall has rising arches that match the curving rows of seats.
Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge (2007–2012) and Peace Bridge (2008–2012)
Calatrava built many amazing bridges for cities around the world. These cities wanted a symbol of modern and bold design. Among the largest are three bridges over the Trinity River in Dallas, Texas. The first was the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, which opened in March 2012. This bridge carries six lanes of traffic and is 209 meters (686 feet) long. It looks like it's hanging from an arc-shaped steel support, 136 meters (446 feet) high, by 58 cables.
The Peace Bridge in Calgary, Canada, built between 2008 and 2012, is very different. It is a glass and steel tube, 126 meters (413 feet) long, designed for people walking and cycling across the Bow River. It looks very long for a bridge with no towers or supports. Calatrava said its shape is "defined by a spiral movement, with an oval cross-section."
Florida Polytechnic University (2009–2014)
The project for the new Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, Florida (2009–2014) allowed Calatrava to design a whole campus in one style. The campus covers 170 acres (69 hectares) of land with small lakes. Calatrava's plan joined several small lakes into one central lake. This lake is the setting for the main building, the Innovation, Science, and Technology (IST) building.
This eye-shaped central building is 200,000 square feet (18,580 square meters) on two floors. It holds all the classrooms, offices, labs, and public spaces. The building has some of Calatrava's special features, like a sun screen on the roof that can extend. This screen changes the building's look as the sun moves. The building's terraces are covered by a curving steel screen, which reduces direct sunlight by 30 percent. Inside, the hallways and central courtyard are lit by a skylight. The university's library is also unique; it has no physical books, only digital ones.
Museum of Tomorrow, Rio de Janeiro (2010–2015)
The Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, opened in December 2015. It is part of a project to rebuild Rio de Janeiro's waterfront and was ready for the 2016 Summer Olympics. The building is on a 7,600 square meter (81,806 square feet) plaza next to the harbor, surrounded by pools. The building hangs out 75 meters (246 feet) over the plaza and 45 meters (148 feet) towards the sea. It looks like it's floating on the water. Calatrava said, "The idea is that the building feels light, almost floating on the sea, like a ship, a bird or a plant." The roof has movable screens that adjust to the sun. The inside is simple, so it can hold many different types of exhibits.
The museum also has many eco-friendly features. Water from the sea is used to control the temperature inside and to fill the pools. One newspaper described it as "an other-worldly building that looks like a mix between a solar-powered dinosaur and a giant air conditioning unit."
WTC Hub, New York City (2003–2016)
Calatrava designed the WTC Transportation Hub in New York City. It is part of the rebuilt World Trade Center area, where the September 11 attacks happened in 2001. This new station connects the regional PATH trains with the subway and other local transport. It also has a large shopping mall, replacing shops destroyed in the attack.
The above-ground part of the station, called the "oculus," is made of glass and steel. It is oval-shaped, 35 meters (115 feet) long and 29 meters (95 feet) high. Calatrava said it looks like "a bird flying from the hands of a child." The main hall of the station is 10 meters (33 feet) underground, and the PATH train tracks are another 8 meters (26 feet) below that. This project was very expensive and took longer than planned, but it is a major transportation center.
Calatrava's Style and Inspirations
Calatrava does not say he belongs to any special style of architecture. Some critics say his work shows influences from architects like Eero Saarinen. Others see his work as a modern form of "expressionism," where buildings show strong feelings. Calatrava himself said, "Architectural critics have not yet passed from a state of perplexity about my work."
Calatrava has said he was greatly influenced by engineers like the Swiss Robert Maillart. Maillart's work inspired him to find simple shapes that could create an emotional reaction. Calatrava's goal is to bring "a new way of designing, with shapes that fit our time."
Calatrava is also a sculptor, and he often talks about how sculpture and architecture are connected in his work. He noted that his Turning Torso building started as a sculpture. He believes that "architecture and sculpture are two rivers in which the same water flows." He also said that architecture is a form of art that must also serve a purpose and consider the human size. Calatrava also mentioned the sculptor Auguste Rodin as an influence.
Movement is also very important in Calatrava's architecture. He studied how objects can move and change shape. Moving parts that fold and expand are a key part of almost all his projects. He once said, "Architecture itself moves, and, with a little chance, becomes a magnificent ruin."
Artworks
Calatrava is also a sculptor and painter. Some of his buildings, like the Turning Torso in Malmö, Sweden, began as sculptures. In 2006, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City had a special exhibition of Calatrava's drawings, sculptures, and architectural models. It was called Santiago Calatrava: Sculpture Into Architecture.
In 2012, the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg showed his work. Later, the Vatican Museum in Rome also had an exhibition. In 2015, eight of his sculptures were displayed along Park Avenue in New York City.
Notable Works
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Completed Projects
- 1983–84, Jakem Steel Warehouse, Munchwilen, Switzerland
- 1983–85, Ernsting Warehouse, Coesfeld, Germany
- 1983–88, Wohlen High School, Wohlen, Switzerland
- 1983–90, Stadelhofen Railway Station, Zurich, Switzerland
- 1983–89, Hall of Lucerne railway station, Lucerne, Switzerland
- 1984–87, Bac de Roda Bridge, Barcelona, Spain
- 1984–88, Barenmatte Community Center, Suhr, Switzerland
- 1986–87, Tabourettli Theater, Basel, Switzerland
- 1986–88, 9 De Octubre Bridge, Valencia, Spain
- 1987–92, Allen Lambert Galleria (in Brookfield Place), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- 1989–94, Lyon-Saint-Exupéry TGV Station, Lyon, France
- 1989–95, Puerto Bridge, Ondarroa, Spain
- 1991–95, Alameda Bridge and Metro Station, Valencia, Spain
- 1991–96, Oberbaum Bridge Renovation, Berlin, Germany
- 1992, Alamillo Bridge, Seville, Spain
- 1992, Lusitania Bridge, Mérida, Spain
- 1992, Montjuic Communications Tower at the Olympic Ring, Barcelona, Spain
- 1994, Kronprinzenbrücke, Berlin, Germany
- 1994–97, Campo Volantin Footbridge, Bilbao, Spain
- 1992–95, Llonja de Sant Jordi, Alcoy (Alicante), Spain
- 1995, Trinity Bridge, footbridge over River Irwell in Manchester and Salford, England
- 1996–2009, City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia, Spain
- 1996, Centro Internacional de Ferias y Congresos de Tenerife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife, Canary island, Spain
- 1998, Gare do Oriente, Lisbon, Portugal
- 2000, New terminal at Bilbao Airport, Bilbao, Spain
- 2001, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
- 2001, Puente de la Mujer, in the Puerto Madero area of Buenos Aires, Argentina
- 2001, Bodegas Ysios, Laguardia, Spain
- 2003, James Joyce Bridge, bridge over River Liffey, Dublin, Ireland
- 2003, Auditorio de Tenerife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- 2004, redesign of Athens Olympic Sports Complex, Athens, Greece
- 2004, Katehaki Footbridge, Athens, Greece
- 2004, Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay, Redding, California, US
- 2005, Turning Torso, Malmö, Sweden
- 2007, Three bridges on the A1 Motorway and Milan–Bologna high-speed railway, Reggio Emilia, Italy
- 2008, Chords Bridge at the entrance to Jerusalem, Israel
- 2008, Ponte della Costituzione footbridge from Piazzale Roma over the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy
- 2009, Liège-Guillemins railway station in Liège, Belgium
- 2009, Samuel Beckett Bridge, bridge over River Liffey, Dublin, Ireland
- 2011, Palacio de Congresos de Oviedo, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
- 2012, Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, Dallas, Texas, US
- 2012, Peace Bridge, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- 2013, Medio Padana Station on the Milan–Bologna high-speed railway, Reggio Emilia, Italy
- 2014, Florida Polytechnic University, Lakeland, Florida, US
- 2015, Museu do Amanhã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- 2016, World Trade Center Transportation Hub, New York City
- 2018, Crati River Bridge, Cosenza, Italy
- 2021, Margaret McDermott Bridge, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
- 2021, UAE Pavilion at EXPO 2020, Dubai, UAE
- 2022, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, New York City
- 2024, railway station in Mons, Belgium
Projects Being Built or Planned
- City of Sport, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
- Peninsula Place, Greenwich, London (a large project for three towers and a footbridge)
- Sharq Crossing, Doha, Qatar: a project for three bridges and two tunnels (put on hold)
- Dubai Creek Tower, Dubai, UAE (started building, planned for 2025; competing to be the world's tallest building)
- Yuan Ze University Building (Taoyuan International Conference Center), Taoyuan, Taiwan
Awards and Recognition
Calatrava has won many awards for his designs and engineering work.
- In 1992, he received the important Gold Medal of the Institution of Structural Engineers.
- In 1993, the Museum of Modern Art in New York held a big exhibition of his work called "Structure and Expression."
- In 2005, he received the Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
- He has also received twenty-two honorary degrees from universities around the world. In 2013, he received an honorary doctorate from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Other Honors
- 2011: Calatrava was made a member of the Pontifical Council for Culture by Pope Benedict XVI.
- 2004: He received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
Personal Life
Calatrava lives in Zurich, Switzerland, and New York City. His children have studied engineering and law at Columbia University in New York City.
See also
In Spanish: Santiago Calatrava para niños
