Biography of Santiago Calatrava, Engineer and Architect

Famous for his bridges and train stations, Spanish modernist Santiago Calatrava (born July 28, 1951) combines artistry with engineering. His graceful, organic structures have been compared to the works of Antonio Gaudí.

Important Projects

• 1989-1992: Alamillo Bridge, Seville, Spain
• 1991: Montjuic Communications Tower, at the 1992 Olympic site in Barcelona, Spain
• 1996: City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia, Spain
• 1998: Gare do Oriente Station, Lisbon, Portugal
• 2001: Milwaukee Art Museum, Quadracci Pavilion, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• 2003: Ysios Wine Estate Laguardia, Spain
• 2003: Tenerife Concert Hall in Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands
• 2004: Olympic Sports Complex, Athens, Greece
• 2005: The Turning Torso, Malmö, Sweden
• 2009: Train Station, Liège, Belgium
• 2012: Margaret McDermott Bridge, Trinity River Corridor Bridges, Dallas, Texas
• 2014: Innovation, Science and Technology (IST) Building, Lakeland, Florida
• 2015: Museu do Amanhã (The Museum of Tomorrow), Rio de Janeiro
• 2016: World Trade Center Transportation Hub, New York City

Career Highlights

A renowned architect, engineer, and sculptor, Santiago Calatrava received an AIA commemorative gold medallion in 2012 as one of the 15 Architects of Healing for his transportation hub design, the new train and subway station at the World Trade Center site in New York City. Calling Calatrava's work "open and organic," the New York Times declared that the new terminal would evoke the kind of uplifting spirituality that is needed on Ground Zero.

Santiago Calatrava is not without his critics. In the world of architecture, Calatrava is typecast as more of an arrogant engineer than a designer. The vision of his aesthetics is often not well-communicated, or perhaps is absent from his designs. More importantly, perhaps, is his well-known reputation of unsupervised workmanship and cost overruns. Many of his projects have ended up in various legal systems as expensive buildings seem to deteriorate quickly into disrepair. "It is hard to find a Calatrava project that has not been significantly over budget," reports The New York Times. "And complaints abound that he is indifferent to the needs of his clients."

Rightfully or not, Calatrava has been placed in the "starchitect" category, with all of its associated back-biting and egotism.

Sources

• Santiago Calatrava Official Site
• Santiago Calatrava (unofficial web site)
• Santiago Calatrava: The World's Most Hated Architect? by Karrie Jacobs, Fast Company Design, December 18, 2014
• Santiago Calatrava, from the Canary Islands to Manhattan Island by Fred A. Bernstein, published in The New York Times, October 26, 2003
• It's the Architecture, Not The Architect, I'm Rooting For by Fred A. Bernstein, published in Architectural Record, December 2013
• "Santiago Calatrava The Bridges" by Alexander Tzonis and Rebeca Caso Donadei, 2005
• "Santiago Calatrava: Complete Works, Expanded Edition" by Alexander Tzonis, Rizzoli, 2007
• Transit Hub Design May Be Simplified Analysis of plans for reconstruction in New York City, from the New York Times.
• A Star Architect Leaves Some Clients Fuming by Suzanne Daley, The New York Times, September 24, 2013