Beautiful Architecture Has Weaknesses Too.

On October 9, 2005, the final phase of the santiago calatrava-designed (the city of arts and science) in Valencia, opened to the public. The 'el palau de les arts Reina Sofia' (the opera house and performing center) finished off the cultural site which is also home to: l’àgora (a covered plaza) which hosts a variety of events; el museu de les ciènces príncipe felipe (prince philip science museum); el pont de l’assut de l’or (a suspension bridge); l’hemisfèric (planetarium);  l’oceanogràfic (open-air oceanographic park); and l’umbracle (a landscaped walkway that acts as a sculpture garden).

Now, 8 years after its inauguration, Calatrava is under some heat from his home city who is suing him for the building’s rapid deterioration. it has been reported that pieces of the ‘white elephant’ have been crumbling off of its façade as a result of high winds, thus forcing officials to cancel performances and restrict public access to the €100 million complex until further notice. a technical report has been issued to evaluate the opera house’s current state to determine a further course of action.

This is the latest in a series of controversy that Calatrava’s designs have sparked in the last decade or so. He is perhaps even more renown for surpassing any budget and creating buildings with technical shortcomings than for his bombastic style of architecture.

For more information see link below:

http://mydesignstories.com/santiago-calatrava/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Santiago_Calatrava_and_his_latest_problem