Santiago Calatrava is among the most important and influential architects of our times. The trademark projects of the Spanish-Swiss designer are sensational bridge designs embodying the symbiosis of elegant architectural expression and engineering mastery. Influenced by his passion and experience in sculpture, his creations decisively shape and characterize the involved cities and landscapes.
This volume is a special homage to this iconic work, showing the importance Santiago Calatrava places on bridges as a cultural achievement of human civilization. In this book, the architect himself talks about the visions as well as artistic and architectural philosophies behind his unparalleled bridge designs. He also provides detailed descriptions of 75 selected projects, which, together with first drafts, watercolor paintings, and high-quality photographs and renderings, provide a unique and genuine insight into his creative process.
_ The most important engineer-cum-architect of bridge design
_ Direct insights into Calatrava’s thoughts, visions and inspirations
_ Wide variety of visual materials
_ Finished and unrealized projects
About the Author:
Santiago Calatrava is a highly revered architect, who has received many distinctions as well as awards and honorary doctorates. Born in Valencia in 1951, he initially studied architecture at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura in his hometown, followed by constructional engineering at the ETH Zurich. He established his own company in 1981, which today has subsidiaries in Dubai and New York. His most important current major work is the transportation hub at the Ground Zero in New York with its characteristic "oculus" hall, which was inaugurated in 2016.