Santiago Calatrava: Winner of European Prize for Architecture 2015

Born in Spain in 1951, Calatrava took a degree in architecture and intrigued by the mathematics of historic buildings, also did a course in civil engineering. In the beginning of his career, Calatrava worked as an engineer and focused on participating in architectural competitions, as it seemed the best way to secure commissions. In 1983, he won the competition for the design and construction of Stadelhofen Railway Station in Zurich. A year later, Calatrava designed and built a bridge for the Olympic Games in Barcelona, the first in a series of bridge projects that brought him in the limelight on the scene of world architecture. The studio today has offices in Zurich, Paris, Doha and New York city.

Instituted in 2010, the European Prize for Architecture is an annual awards event, with a ceremony hosted in different architectural landmarks around Europe, as a celebration of the continent’s rich architectural heritage and traditions. Supported by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies; the award aims to recognize the contributions of innovative designers across the continent.

Past winners include Danish architect Bjarke Ingels of BIG, Norwegian firm TYIN Tegnestue and Marco Casagrande. Last year’s winner was Italian architect, Alessandro Mendini.

Often courting controversy and sparking debates around the globe, Calatrava’s phantasmagorical structures mark several cities across Europe and beyond. Christian Narkiewicz-Laine, Museum President, The Chicago Athenaeum,  refers to Calatrava as "more than just an architect”, stating that his buildings are “powerful works of art; inspired by a master's gifted hand and sculpted by a superior, critical eye; immensely evocative and fiercely intellectual."

In a ceremony conducted on the 10^th floor of 7 World Trade Center in New York on November 17^th, Calatrava received one of Europe’s most prestigious awards for architecture.