AR 405 | HOA

Case Study on an
Architect

Aditya .V.P

BARN1AR21001
 Santiago Calatrava is one of the most renowned
architects of our time, known for his exceptional
creativity and innovative designs. His work spans across
the globe and has been widely recognized for its unique
form and beauty.

Santiago Calatrava was born on July 28, 1951, in

Valencia, Spain. He showed an early interest in art and
science, and this passion led him to pursue a degree in
architecture. He received his degree in architecture from
the Polytechnic University of Valencia in 1974, and later
went on to earn a doctorate in civil engineering from the
Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

Santiago Calatrava
Design Philosophy & Architectural Style
Santiago Calatrava's design philosophy is
centered around the concept of "dynamic
equilibrium," which emphasizes the balance between
form and function. He believes that architecture
should be an extension of the natural world and
should reflect the natural forces that shape our
environment. This philosophy is evident in his work,
which often features fluid lines, organic shapes, and
an overall sense of movement.
Santiago Calatrava's signature elements
are his use of curves, arches, and white concrete.
These elements are present in many of his works
and give them a sense of fluidity and lightness. His
buildings often feature soaring arches and
dramatic curves that create a sense of movement
and energy. The use of white concrete gives his
buildings a sense of purity and simplicity.
Turning Torso - Malmö, Sweden

Design: 1999-2001 Height: 190.0 m

Construction: 2001-2005 Average Floor Area: 400.0 m²

Type: Residential Tower Total Residential Space: 14,600 m²

(Cubes 3-9)
Structure: Core and Slabs (concrete)
Total Office Space: 4,200 m² (First
Exoskeleton: Steel 2 cubes)
Levels: 56

Façade Area: 215,278 sq. ft.

Net Floor Area: 227,710 sq. ft.

 Turning Torso is a neo-futurist
skyscraper based on his own white marble
sculpture of a twisting human being. It was
the world’s first ‘twisting’ tower and at 190 m
(623 ft), it is the tallest building in
Scandinavia.

The tower is formed by nine irregular

pentagonal segments of five storeys. These
units twist around the vertical core as the
building rises.

The top segment is twisted

90-degrees clockwise relative to the ground
floor.

Following the twist of the building,

the façade consists of curved aluminium
panels and windows that lean either inwards
or outwards.

The bottom two segments provide

commercial office space, while the rest of the
building is residential, with apartments which
have unique layouts depending on their
position in the building.
 The building’s exoskeleton is formed by tapered white steel tubes. Horizontal and inclined tubes
between each segmented module fix the exoskeleton to steel anchors embedded in shear walls at the
rear corners of the building. In this way, the exoskeleton provides wind resistance and dampens
vibrations, while the spinal core takes vertical loads.