Written Interview with Architect Santiago Calatrava

Writer and Editor Robert Ivy interviewed Santiago Calatrava in order to figure out the mind process of such an inspiring architect and get insight on his views of architecture itself. The Milwaukee Art Museum came into discussion as Calatrava's powerful example. 

In the question "Why don't we take one of those projects, [maybe the Milwaukee project], and describe how it has progressed; how it came to be and where you are with it.", Calatrava starts off by explaining that the ideas he presented prior to visiting Milwaukee were vague. It is important to get familiar with the location that the structure is to be placed because not every type of building will compliment or even fit in with every setting. Calatrava especially took Lake Michigan into mind when designing the building and had the idea of changing up the war memorial into a grand museum that compliments the lake front. He explains that he tried very much to influence the building with a sort of "lake culture" which is why you see what are the sails of a sail boat shaped wings on the top of the structure. 

Calatrava also takes into consideration that Milwaukee isn't an "old" city like Rome or Madrid. The multiple buildings and bridges that he designed for these cities already had architecture that was easily recognizable. For instance, it isn't difficult to know that you are looking at a picture of a European city when you see one, but in the case of Milwaukee, Calatrava had a chance to articulate the Building with the city and make something that could represent Milwaukee. 


Ivy, Santiago. "Interview With Santiago Calatrava." Interviews. : Architectural Record, . Print.