Art, Architecture, and Engineering Designs by Santiago Calatrava

City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia by night

Opera House in Valencia

Santiago Calatrava is a daring architect whose designs are worth making a detour to see. In fact, one way to see the world in style would be to embark on a tour of Calatrava's most interesting works.

La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias

The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia by Santiago Calatrava

The two closest to me are both in New York: the St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, and the much anticipated World Trade Center Transportation Hub.

List of projects by Santiago Calatrava

Calatrava is controversial because his recent projects have a tendency to go way over budget in both time and money. Residents of Calatrava's home town have accused the architect of "bleeding Valencia dry." The World Trade Center Transportation Hub has been dubbed a "glorious boondoggle."

"Auditorio de Tenerife Pano" by Taxiarchos228

One of Calatrava's early buildings was the Ada Martin Auditorium (2003) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands (pictured above). In the auditorium's sweeping, organic curves, one can see the seed of the much more ambitious Opera House in Valencia (2006). 

Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas

Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge by night

The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas is the only one of Calatrava's works I have laid eyes on to date. Next time I am in the Big D, I'll have to get some of my own photos to share. The bridge spans the Trinity River not far from Dealey Plaza. Though it looks like a suspension bridge, it is really a cable-stayed bridge with a very intricate laced cable design.

Fantastic architecture is a good excuse to travel!