Educational Media Reviews Online

Santiago Calatrava is a 21st century Renaissance man who at 52 has not only built an international reputation as an architect, he is also an engineer, a sculptor, a painter, and a philosopher. Calatrava’s distinctive works can be found in cities across Europe and around the globe, and it is some of these sites that we visit with him in his Travels. The buildings, which we have the privilege of seeing in all stages of design and construction, are quintessentially modern structures of steel, glass, and concrete – yet their designs are inspired by the most elemental forms of the natural world. An ancient grove of olive trees, the elegantly outstretched wing of a bird, the grace of the human torso – all echo in the train stations, bridges, airports, and concert halls of Santiago Calatrava’s design. His concepts take shape as sketches, watercolors, drawings, and models, and finally come alive on site under the attentions of craftsmen and laborers. In Bilbao, Lisbon, Toronto, Zurich, and Valencia we experience the process of architecture up close and personal.

A day-in-the-life documentary, Santiago Calatrava’s Travels effectively draws the viewer into the fast-paced world and the creative, articulate mind of the architect. Even the film’s more contemplative moments capture the energy that drives the man and informs his work. The travelogue format is particularly fitting since many of Calatrava’s buildings are transit centers in which movement is both design metaphor and relentless day-to-day reality. The film makes accessible a timeless art in the hands of a modern master.

Santiago Calatrava’s Travels is recommended for libraries and programs with collections in modern architecture and art.