text Y-JEAN MUN-DELSALLE
REMARKABLE
DESIGNS
City of Arts and
Sciences, Valencia,
Spain (2004)
Consisting of an
opera house, science
museum, planetarium,
two bridges and two
gardens on a 35ha
site, the arts complex
rejuvenated an
underdeveloped
and neglected area of
the city.
Turning Torso,
Malmo, Sweden
(2005)
Based on one of
Calatrava’s sculptures,
the spiralling mixed-
use residential and
office tower evokes the
imagery of a twisting
spinal column, and
is composed of nine
box units positioned
elegantly around a core.
Bridge of Strings,
Jerusalem, Israel
(2008)
Serving as a gateway
to the city, the harp-like
bridge with a single
slanting pylon and
cables arranged in a
parabolic shape carries
the light rail across
a dense urban area,
and aids in resolving
traffic issues.
Liege-Guillemins
TGV Railway Station,
Liege, Belgium
(2009)
Seamlessly integrating
interior and exterior,
the high-speed train
station with no facade
in the traditional sense
is characterised by
transparency, through a
monumental vault roof
and a glass-and-steel
construction.
Palacio de
Congresos, Oviedo,
Spain (2011)
Along with two office
buildings, a five-star
hotel, an underground
shopping mall and
a parking garage,
the conference and
exhibition centre
features a glass-and-
steel covered elliptical
form for optimal
acoustics, as well as a
cantilevered roof and
facade structure with
operable light-adjusting
elements.
Margaret Hunt
Hill Bridge, Dallas,
USA (2012)
Converting the riverfront
into a central gathering
place, the six-lane
bridge showcases
an arched pylon
laced with 58 cables
extending in web-like
sweeps to either side
to effectively distribute
the forces.
Museum of
Tomorrow, Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil
(2015)
The highlight is a
cantilevered roof
that has huge mobile
wings, with a facade
structure stretching
almost the full length
of the pier and
a reflection pool
surrounding
the building. Its
sustainability
credentials include
using seawater to
cool the interiors and
photovoltaic panels for
solar energy.
World Trade Center
Transportation Hub,
New York City, USA
(2016)
The steel-and-glass
elliptical oculus houses
a 330 ft skylight
enabling natural
daylight to flood into
the structure and
filter down through
all floors to reach the
PATH train platform
60 ft below ground.
Museum of Tomorrow
World Trade Center
Transportation Hub
something new and poetic.
The same thing happens with
buildings. They are not static.
They transform over time
and can capture an instant.”
After almost four decades
in the business, what excites
him about architecture
is that it has the capacity
to propose buildings and
infrastructure, which, apart
from their function, are
able to convert spaces into
something inspirational.
He describes the role
of the architect: “Above
all, the works of architects
must possess the capacity to
express hope and optimism,
an especially important
feature in public works.”
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