The plume
One of the goals I set myself this year was to follow in Santiago Calatrava’s footsteps. It’s a goal I want to complete slowly, savouring every opportunity I can create to experience his wonderful work.
Without doubt, Calatrava’s pièce de résistance is the City of Arts and Sciences (known as CAC) in his home city of Valencia. Running for almost two kilometres along what used to be the River Turia, construction started 15 years ago and the latest addition (the Palau de les Artes) was completed in 2005. The addition of three skyscrapers has been put on hold by the recession.
I’ve just been in Valencia for a few days for a family holiday and managed to visit my architectural Mecca three times. On the first occasion I had the great pleasure of meeting a Flickr friend, Toni, who’s one of the best minimalist photographers I know. Toni also writes one of my favourite blogs - the intriguingly titled I used to read books. Our two hours together flew by as we walked and talked our way around Calatrava’s masterpiece.
I’ve now had the pleasure of seeing Calatrava’s work in Zurich, Venice and Valencia. Any suggestions where should be next? Perhaps the Samuel Beckett Bridge in Dublin or the Guillemins Station at Liège? Thoughts please!
+++
The shot I’ve posted here is a close-up of the tip of the plume that seems to float above the Palau de les Artes, my favourite building in the complex. As the building’s website notes “Only one point of support sustains the plume over the almond-shaped building, leaving the eastern end of the feather floating in mid-air, defying gravity”.