Santiago Calatrava

One of Spain’s most famous modern day architects, Santiago Calatrava, was born in Valencia on July 28 1951. He first studied at undergraduate level at the Architecture and Arts and Crafts school. After just one year there, he switched to study architecture at the "Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Valencia." He then furthered his studies there and took a postgraduate course in Urbanism. Following this, he then moved on to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland to start graduate work in civil engineering. In 1981, after finishing his doctorate, Calatrava opened his first architectural and engineering practice in Zurich. His first realized project was the Jakem Factory in 1983, in Munchwilen, Switzerland.

Calatrava is well known for his distinctive, original and highly influential style, which blends impressive visual style and the strict rules of engineering.

Much of his work is inspired by the natural world – and is especially influenced by the forms and structures that can be found within it. It’s this organic style that sets Calatrava apart from many of his contemporaries.

Even after a relatively short career so far, he has caused waves with his stunning designs of bridges and train stations, and radical ideas, including the proposed ‘Townhouse in the Sky’, where interested parties are allegedly willing to part with $30million to own one of 12 townhouses stacked on top of each other in a ladder like effect.

Calatrava’s existing work is too far reaching to go into in much depth, his work throughout Europe and North and South America is far reaching and eclectic. Some of his more famous works include his huge contribution to the Athens Olympics in 2004 which included the addition of the suspended sliding roof in the main athletics stadium as well as many other projects around the site. In Malmo, Sweden, Calatrava built a high-rise apartment block, the 50 story building is the second highest residential structure in Europe and is based on one of Caltrava’s sculptures, "Turning Torso". This willingness to use sculptural elements in his architecture comes naturally to Calatrava – for him they are one and the same thing.

Although Calatrava is a now a household name for his designs, it is less well known that he is also very talented painter and sculpture – both skills he learned whilst an undergraduate. Calatrava believes that architecture is simply a practice that combines all arts into one, indeed late in 2005 the Museum of Modern Art will be hosting an exhibition on Calatrava’s work called "Sculpture in Architecture".

In nearly 20 years of practice, Santiago Calatrava has won countless awards, including the 1987 "Auguste Perret UIA Prize", the 1992 "Gold Medal of the Institute of Structural Engineers" and in 2005 a gold medal from "The American Institute of Architects". With his unique designs and one of the best reputations in the business, Calatrava has put himself on the map as one of the world leaders in his field and may one day earn him fame comparable to that of Spain’s greatest architect, Antoni Gaudi

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