Santiago Calatrava is one of the most successful and sought-after architects across the globe. Widely known for his ability to combine advanced engineering solutions with dramatic visual statements, the Spanish architect has designed a variety of sculptural buildings and bridges that expand far beyond physical boundaries, genuinely touching those who encounter them.
Since his first major project (Zurich’s Stadelhofen station in 1990), Calatrava has designed a vast range of structures including the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Turning Torso tower in Sweden, the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in New York City, the City of Arts and Sciences and Opera House in Valencia, the O’Hare Airport in Chicago, the UAE pavilion for the 2020 Dubai Expo, and many more.
In addition to his extensive collection of prestigious architectural commissions, the architect has created several impressive sculptural works throughout his career, including the Constellation in Chicago and The New York Times Capsule. Calatrava’s most recent work is an art exhibition at the Glyptothek Museum in Munich. Dubbed ‘Beyond Hellas: Santiago Calatrava in the Glyptothek’, the show presents 50 sculptures and paintings influenced by the dynamics of Ancient Greece which has served as a constant source in Calatrava’s architectural style, alongside the concepts of the human body and nature. The exhibit opened to the public in June and will be on display until October 23, 2022.
Sculpture prototypes in the modelmakers atelier, courtesy of Architectural Digest | photo by Nick Mafi
Calatrava spends most of his time in his studio on a quiet, street close to central Zurich. In an interview with Architectural Digest (read more here), the Spanish architect discusses how he begins each day with creative diligence. ‘On the third floor of my house, I have an atelier that I use to paint from nine to noon.’ Calatrava’s passion for art and sculpture is evident in his daily routine.
Walking through Santiago Calatrava’s atelier is like wandering through his mind. There are paintings of a charging bull, a skeletal hand, bodies suspended in mid-dance, and a dove in mid-flight. ‘I find much beauty and inspiration in the natural world,’ he explains. Anyone who has viewed his completed structures can see this inspiration. In this way, Calatrava is more of an alchemist than an architect, possessing a unique ability to transform steel, glass, and concrete into something soft and delicate, even ephemeral. All of his works, from architectural projects to paintings and sculptural collections, attest to this talent.
Calatrava’s designs combine the qualities of both art and architecture, unlocking the perfect balance between openness and enclosure, between serenity and security. ‘No painting, no sculpture, no musical ballad allows you to physically step inside the work of art, except for architecture,’ Calatrava says. ‘This, for me, makes it exceptional.’
in this atelier in Zurich, where the architectural models are produced, courtesy of Architectural Digest | photo by Nick Mafi
‘Beyond Hellas: Santiago Calatrava in the Glyptothek’ is the first exhibition dedicated solely to the sculptural and painting works of the renowned Spanish architect, engineer, and artist. The works are displayed as part of a vibrant dialogue between the architecture of the 1830 temple-like Neoclassical building and the museum’s sculptures.
The exhibition’s main focus is Calatrava’s new sculptural series, ‘The Aegineten,’ which includes a body of work that has been in development for the last 30 years. It consists of 14 large-format wrought iron works on an aged oak base. These sculptures are created to appear as modern, almost conceptual variations of the ancient warriors of Aegina’s Temple of Aphaia, drawing on the spirit of the circular dynamic compositions of the ancient warriors’ shields in the temple that have been updated with modern vocabulary. Using raw materials and elements, the architect was able to create artworks that are deeply connected to nature, movement, and world history.
the architect’s painting desk at his Zurich office, courtesy of Architectural Digest | photo by Nick Mafi
image courtesy of Renate Kühling
image courtesy of Renate Kühling
image courtesy of Renate Kühling
image courtesy of Renate Kühling
image courtesy of Santiago Calatrava
image courtesy of Santiago Calatrava
image courtesy of Renate Kühling
image courtesy of Renate Kühling
image courtesy of Santiago Calatrava
image courtesy of Santiago Calatrava
name: Beyond Hellas: Santiago Calatrava in the Glyptothek architect: Santiago Calatrava location: Glyptothek Museum, Munich, Germany
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