On Tuesday, the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies announced Santiago Calatrava as the winner of the 2015 European Prize for Architecture.
The honor is awarded every year to architects who have “blazoned a new path and direction for an architecture that is deeply humane and committed to forward the principles of European humanism,” according to The Chicago Athenaeum’s website.
Calatrava, who has a background in both architecture and engineering, is known for his curved structures made of steel and concrete.
"His buildings are not just 'building,'" said Christian Narkiewicz-Laine, the President of The Chicago Athenaeum, in a statement. "They are powerful works of art inspired by a master's gifted hand and sculpted by a superior, critical eye."
A few of his projects include the Stadelholfen Railway Station in Zurich; the Peace Bridge in Calgary, Canada; the Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee; Turning Torso, in Malmö, Sweden; and the City of Arts and Sciences of Valencia, Spain.
Calatrava will receive the award at a ceremony at the World Trade Center in New York on November 17. Also, a catalog of his works will be published by the Metropolitan Arts Press.
Milwaukee Art Museum. Photo: John Picken/Wikimedia Commons
Turning Torso. Photo: Väsk/Wikimedia Commons
Calgary's Peace Bridge. Photo: davebloggs007/Creative Commons
Related Stories
| Feb 15, 2011
Iconic TWA terminal may reopen as a boutique hotel
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey hopes to squeeze a hotel with about 150 rooms in the space between the old TWA terminal and the new JetBlue building. The old TWA terminal would serve as an entry to the hotel and hotel lobby, which would also contain restaurants and shops.
| Feb 15, 2011
New Orleans' rebuilt public housing architecture gets mixed reviews
The architecture of New Orleans’ new public housing is awash with optimism about how urban-design will improve residents' lives—but the changes are based on the idealism of an earlier era that’s being erased and revised.
| Feb 15, 2011
LAUSD commissions innovative prefab prototypes for future building
The LA Unified School District, under the leadership of a new facilities director, reversed course regarding prototypes for its new schools and engaged architects to create compelling kit-of-parts schemes that are largely prefabricated.
| Feb 15, 2011
New 2030 Challenge to include carbon footprint of building materials and products
Architecture 2030 has just broadened the scope of its 2030 Challenge, issuing an additional challenge regarding the climate impact of building products. The 2030 Challenge for Products aims to reduce the embodied carbon (meaning the carbon emissions equivalent) of building products 50% by 2030.
| Feb 15, 2011
New Urbanist Andrés Duany: We need a LEED Brown rating
Andrés Duany advocates a "LEED Brown" rating that would give contractors credit for using traditional but low cost measures that are not easy to quantify or certify. He described these steps as "the original green," and "what we did when we didn't have money." Ostensibly, LEED Brown would be in addition to the current Silver, Gold and Platinum ratings.
| Feb 15, 2011
AIA on President Obama's proposed $1 billion investment in energy conservation
The President’s budget increases the value of investment in energy conservation in commercial buildings by roughly $1 billion, reports AIA 2011 President Clark Manus, FAIA. The significant increase from the current tax deduction of $1.80 per sq. ft. now on the books is an increase for which the AIA has been advocating in order to encourage energy conservation.
| Feb 14, 2011
Sustainable Roofing: A Whole-Building Approach
According to sustainability experts, the first step toward designing an energy-efficient roofing system is to see roof materials and systems as an integral component of the enclosure and the building as a whole. Earn 1.0 AIA/CES learning units by studying this article and successfully completing the online exam.
| Feb 11, 2011
Four Products That Stand Up to Hurricanes
What do a panelized wall system, a newly developed roof hatch, spray polyurethane foam, and a custom-made curtain wall have in common? They’ve been extensively researched and tested for their ability to take abuse from the likes of Hurricane Katrina.
