'natura mater et magistra'

I first experienced Santiago Calatravas work in Zurich when passing through Stadelhofen station, one of his many engineering-led, concrete-spined and glass-winged possibly expressionist buildings.

Whilst recently researching him I found some other underlying values of his work more interesting, as he quoted (probably not the first architect to) "geometry is fundamental to the understanding of architecture; the language of geometry is as important as the language of structure". The article went on to state that this mathematical framework has been married to a love of the sculptural potential of concrete and of forms from the natural world.

Hence the motto and title of this post 'natura mater et magistra' - nature is both mother and teacher - which says Calatrava, guided all his work.

An architect not afraid to have a signature style. http://www.calatrava.com