Santiago Calatrava: The Architect's Studio

Santiago Calatrava The Architects Studio
Models, sketches and designs created by international architect Santiago Calatrava arrived in Santa Barbara with the opening of the University Art Museum's new exhibit, 'Santiago Calatrava: The Architect's Studio.'

Organized by the Henry Art Gallery in Seattle and curated by Kirsten Kiser, the show is the second in a series of three architectural exhibits at the museum.

Calatrava's works will be on display through March 5.

Admission to the museum is free.

The art museum is well suited to hold the impressive exhibit as its architecture and design archives are among the five largest in the country, said Kurt Helfrich, a museum curator.

Helfrich said Calatrava bases his architecture on analogies of the human form, a perfect example of which is the Turning Torso building in Malmš, Sweden, whose appearance matches it moniker.

'He creates forms that blow you away and he is able to deal with large scale complexes.' Helfrich said.

Calatrava has created art from his buildings in new, experimental forms, Helfrich said.

'I hope what [visitors] will be able to see is the potential,' Helfrich said.

'He's one of the hottest architects around.'

The first exhibit in the museum's series featured works by renowned architect Frank Gehry, designer of such buildings as the Walt Disney Concert