Calatrava. Complete Works 1979–Today. 45th Ed.

The Masterful Forms of Santiago Calatrava

A compact exhibition of the architect’s oeuvre from 1979 to today

Santiago Calatrava is a world-renowned architect, structural engineer, sculptor, and artist. From the Athens 2004 Olympic Sports Complex to the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in Manhattan, he exhibits a remarkable twin prowess for aesthetics and engineering, a simultaneous sensitivity to both the appearance and the anatomy of a structure.

His influences are wide-ranging: Auguste Rodin’s approach to sculpture and architecture, principles of classicism and Greek Cycladic art, NASA space design, and a deep admiration for nature, which he regards as both mother and teacher. Thus, Calatrava’s creations are at once aerodynamic and organic in their associations, with natural forms and human movement informing many of his projects. He takes a particular interest in the meeting point of equilibrium and dynamism.

This compact monograph gathers detailed entries, photography, and the original watercolor sketches that set Calatrava aside as a unique creative master. It includes many of his original collaborative input, and projects such as the Mediopadana Station in Reggio Emilia, Italy, the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, as well as recent works like the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai, St. Nicholas Greek Church at Ground Zero in New York and Constellation, a large sculpture at River Point Park in Chicago.

The artist
Santiago Calatrava (born in 1951) studied art and architecture at ETSA in Valencia and engineering at ETH in Zurich, where he founded his first architectural practice in 1981. His best-known works include the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Opera House in his native Valencia, the Olympic Sports Complex in Athens, and the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in New York. The architect, artist, and engineer has offices in New York City, Dubai, and Zurich.

The author
Philip Jodidio studied art history and economics at Harvard and edited Connaissance des Arts for over 20 years. His TASCHEN books include the Homes for Our Time series and monographs on numerous major architects, including Norman Foster, Tadao Ando, Renzo Piano, Jean Nouvel, and Zaha Hadid.