2. Artist Research For My Major Project: Santiago Calatrava

 Santiago Calatrava, in full Santiago Calatrava Valls. He was born in 28th of July in 1951 in Benimamet. Spanish architects widely well-known by his sculptural buildings and bridges. Calatrava studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Valencia. Also after his graduation from Polytechnic University of Valencia he began a course in structural engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

Santiago Calatrava

So, as he studied engineering, he used his knowledge of engineering to create innovative sculptural structures, often in concrete and steel. He stated that he inspired from the reflected natural shapes and rhythms. 

So that’s why I chose this famous architect for my project research, as he said he is inspiring from the natural shapes and rhythms which is similar with my project theme, expressionism. As I am going to design my theatre by using expressionist architectural design. So, this architect's buildings are retaliated to my project idea.

Furthermore, I would like to talk about his few buildings that might help my Art Portfolio project and help me to improve my ideas for my theatre. Santiago Calatrava designed spectacular buildings for instance, my favorite one Auditorio de Tenerife, Quadracci Pavilion and Reggio Mediopadana.

First building I would like to talk about is Auditorio de Tenerife, I chose this building for my research because the concept is nearly same with mine. 

Auditorio de Tenerife

Auditorio de Tenerife;

So the building is actually concert hall, actually that was the reason I have picked this building for my example, because concert hall and theatre nearly same, the only difference is the shows and in some theatres the stage is different than concert hall . This building have multiple suggestions, lot of people have different views for instance, it has the shape of the wave or for others, the moon and also some people thought that a gigantic cobra tongue. I believe if people are think the meaning of the building in different ways, that means the building got lots of impacts on people.

The stage and seats

 According to the some commentators, this building has two characteristics, "The first is its opening to the outside, both to the sea and to the city, with large terraces and a pedestrian promenade that crosses the building from side to side. The second, due to the expressive stroke of Calatrava, places the Auditorium more in the conception of a gigantic organic sculpture, in any case, it is a building that always keeps the waves of music fresh".

This the Floor Plan of the building;

To continue, I would like to talk about the structure of the building which the building is composed of successive platforms from which the large curved volume of Main Room stands out, which becomes the generating element of the building both in its formal and structural aspect. Calatrava used his work from concrete because that material allows it to “mould shapes and defy the laws of gravity, like the edge that falls from the sky”.

Auditorio de Tenerife

So finally, from researching this building Auditorio de Tenerife, I really got why  the shape of the building is important to people and how can a shape impact to number of people. I will definitely think the meaning of the shape of theatre before designing it.

For the second building I would like to talk about is Quadracci Pavilion,

Quadracci Pavilion

Quadraccio Pavilio building is a Milwaukee Art Museum  designed by Santiago Calatrava. Before he designed the sculptural Quadracci Pavilio looked into the original building of Eeron Saarinen, he is also famous architect and the looked the topography of the city and the Praire style of Frank Llyod Wright.

Calatrava’s designs are nearly inspired by the nature and combination of organic forms which is the similar with the expressionism theme for my major project. So he designed this spectacular sculptural building by looking the wing of a bird. Also he said about his design, “ Instead of just adding something to existing buildings, I also wanted to add something to the front of the lake. Therefore, I have worked to infuse the building with a certain sensitivity to the culture of the lake: ships, sails and ever changing landscape…”

Design

Lastly, I would like to say, by researching about incredible structural building my perspective on buildings have. In addition, all of these buildings theme of design is same with mine. So I have learnt lots of new ideas which would help my theatre project.

  

References: 

Quadracci Pavilion - Milwaukee Art Museum - Data, Photos & Plans (2020) WikiArquitectura. Available at: https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/quadracci-pavilion-milwaukee-art-museum/ (Accessed: May 2, 2023). 

Auditorio de Tenerife (2020) WikiArquitectura. Available at: https://es.wikiarquitectura.com/edificio/auditorio-de-tenerife/ (Accessed: May 2, 2023). 

Projects (no date) Home - Santiago Calatrava – Architects & Engineers. Available at: https://calatrava.com/projects.html?all=yes (Accessed: May 2, 2023). 

A place for Exploration Reflection Community (no date) Milwaukee Art Museum. Available at: https://mam.org/ (Accessed: May 2, 2023).