Santiago Calatrava: Portrait of an Architect-Artist
A short film by American director Alexandra Liveris for Nowness magazine profiles Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava (Valencia, 1951) in his studio, capturing his multidisciplinary practice. Known for iconic buildings such as the Guillemins Station in Liège, the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, the Turning Torso in Malmö, and the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in New York, Calatrava is also a passionate draftsman, painter, and sculptor. The video shows him working on preparatory sketches, emphasizing his process of imagining form and aesthetic impact in relation to surroundings and inhabitants. Inspired by simple forms and the organic world—nature, the human body, primary movements—he conceives buildings as living creatures.
Key facts
- Short film directed by Alexandra Liveris for Nowness magazine.
- Profiles Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.
- Calatrava was born in Valencia in 1951.
- His notable buildings include Guillemins Station (Liège), City of Arts and Sciences (Valencia), Turning Torso (Malmö), and World Trade Center Transportation Hub (New York).
- He is also a painter, sculptor, and draftsman.
- The video shows him working on preparatory sketches.
- He draws inspiration from nature, the human body, and primary movements.
- He views his buildings as living creatures.
Entities
Artists
- Santiago Calatrava
- Alexandra Liveris
Institutions
- Nowness
- Artribune
Locations
- Valencia
- Spain
- Liège
- Belgium
- Malmö
- Sweden
- New York
- United States