CALATRAVA ELEMENTOS DE DISENO

It’s been a dream of mine for quite some time to visit Valencia, Spain and immerse myself in the wonders of Santiago Calatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias) cultural complex. Calatrava’s award winning structures and bridges can be found all over the world, but this particular concentration of work reflects his origins as a designer during early studies in his home city of Valencia. The City of Arts and Sciences collection is his largest and most ambitious project consisting of seven unique pieces.

With two weeks in Valencia, I was able to explore the site and examine in depth Calatrava’s vision with design elements of the Museo de les Ciencies, Palau de les Arts, L’Hemispheric, Assut de l’Or Bridge, and L’Agora specifically. What I walked away with is an even greater admiration for Calatrava’s brilliant knowledge of engineering, and how he marries that with innovative, sculptural design. Being lucky enough to photograph the works of one of the world’s most creative architects in such an energetic environment was an experience I’ll never forget.

-Shaun Bonneau (February 2023)

Museo de les Ciencies Principe Felipe

Designed with repetition of asymmetry, the structure is likened to the skeleton of a prehistoric animal. The “ribs” are connected by white metal horizontal longitudinal elements that surround the glass of the building.

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía

The opera house was designed as a series of volumes, unified through the enclosure of two symmetrical, cut-away concrete shells with laminated steel. This is crowned by a sweeping steel sheath, which projects all the way from the entrance concourse and extends over the uppermost contours of the building.

L'Hemisfèric

L’Hemispheric design has a distinct resemblance of an eye opening to access the surrounding pool. The shutter being built of elongated aluminum awnings that fold upward collectively to form a roof that opens along the curved axis.

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía

Palau de les Arts was conceived as the final element and anchor of the complex. The southeast rear elevation highlights the terminus of a sweeping axial projection that starts at the front of the structure, appearing to float over the top of the building.

L'Àgora - CaixaForum Valencia

L’Agora was designed as a large arena used for exhibitions and events with a glass roof along its spine and a movable structure to control the overhead natural light. The steel rib-cage arches give the interior space a unique organic element feel.

Museo de les Ciencies, L'Àgora, & Assut de l'Or Bridge

Looking southeast from the entrance of the Museum, one can see expanding elements of the City of Arts and Sciences including Calatrava’s famed cable-stayed bridge design that spans the Turia riverbed along with the magnificent L’Agora looming in the background.

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía

The expansive auditorium occupies the central core of the arts centre structure. The Sala Principal (Main Hall) seats 1,470 people and functions primarily for opera with its state of the art acoustics.

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía

The performing arts centre consists of volumes that are stacked between horizontal promenade decks. The shell encasing the structure permits peripheral exterior circulation to the different spaces within.

Museo de les Ciencies Principe Felipe

The third floor of the interactive museum is known as the "Chromosome Forest" and shows the sequencing of human DNA amongst the steel arches. The light flooding in through the vast windows help shape the architectural “bones” of the building.

L'Hemisfèric

The structure of L'Hemisfèric, is achieved through reinforced concrete walls that enclose the area around the entrance, and through the forging of the different floors and beams of the sloping terraces. The metallic covering is composed of five arches, which are supported on tripods at the ends of the reinforced concrete.

TALLINN PROJECT

I have always found myself drawn to Soviet-Era architecture, so photographing with medium format in a country like Estonia was a dream come true for me. After exploring Tallinn for a few days, I quickly realized that the city offers so much more than the colossal concrete structures I came to marvel at. From the beautifully preserved Old Town with its gothic churches and castle complexes to the well-spring of contemporary architecture and refurbished industrial structures found on the outskirts of the city, Tallinn is the model of transformation. I had the privilege to photograph a small sample of this architectural evolution that spans from the Middle Ages all the way to the Soviet occupation period and now independence and restoration. Currently, Estonia is a progressive and innovative technological power in Europe while still honoring the significance of its turbulent past. Tallinn’s admirable architecture genuinely reflects just that.

-Shaun Bonneau (October 2019)

National Library of Estonia

Housing over 5 million volumes, The National Library of Estonia is the largest library in the Baltic countries. Architect Raine Karp’s extraordinary design began construction under soviet rule in 1985 and was completed in a newly-independent nation in 1993.

Kumu Art Museum (facade)

The Estonian Kuntimuuseum (Art Museum) was designed by Finnish architect Pekka Vaapavuori in 1994 with construction coming to an end in 2006. The museum is set into a limestone slope of Lasnamae Hill in the scenic Kadriorg Park.

Tallinn TV Tower

The imposing Soviet-style brutalist tower was originally used for boosting broadcasting signals during the 1980 Moscow Olympics. The tower later played a role in Estonia’s fight for independence from Russia and was ultimately reclaimed as a national symbol for the Baltic nation.

Linnahall

Like the Tallinn TV Tower, the mammoth former stadium of Linnahall just north of Tallinn’s harbor was built for the Regatta Sailing Event in the 1980 Moscow Olympics and used later as a concert venue. The temple-like multi-level complex is now crumbling and abandoned but still serves as a reminder of its late Cold War origins.

Kumu Art Museum (courtyard)

Pekka Vapaavuori’s modern art museum has won the 2008 European Museum of the Year Award and is one of the largest museums in Northern Europe. Works include Socialist Realism and Nonconformist art from Estonia’s Russian Occupation Period (1940 to 1991).

Vanalinn

Vanalinn, or “Old Town” Tallinn, dates back to the 13th Century and is home to Toompea, the capital of Estonia. The Medieval city centre is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, being preserved remarkably through fire and war with intervening countries over several centuries.

MONTREAL METRO PROJECT

As an architectural photographer, The Montreal Metro project came about not only by a fascination of station interiors, but also seizing the opportunity to observe the energy and efficiency of the public movement within these spaces. The Montreal Metro is Canada's busiest rapid transit system and third busiest in North America (by daily ridership) only behind New York City and Mexico City. Inspired by the Paris Metro system, Metro de Montreal is renowned for its modernist architecture and public art installations by local Quebec artists. The transit system exemplifies function, accessibility and reliability without sacrificing the aesthetic and style unique to the city of Montreal.

I spent two weeks exploring stations in Montreal's underground network with my trusty Hasselblad and a bag of film in tow. Below is a small snippet of what I encountered on this journey.

-Shaun Bonneau (April 2018)

Georges Vanier

Designed by Pierre-W. Major, the Georges Vanier Metro Station is one of the least used in Montreal's network since it does not service any bus routes. The voluminous underground space is a classic example 1980s modernism.

Place-Des-Artes

Architect David Boulva, et Cleve built the Place-Des-Artes Metro Station in the 1960s as part of Montreal's original network. The large open volumed station is joined by RESO (The Underground City) to Place-Des-Artes cultural complex and Universite du Quebec a Montreal.

Lionel-Groulx

Designed in the late 1970s, Yves Roy's Lionel-Groulx Metro Station is one of the heaviest trafficked in the network. The stacked cross-platform interchange succeeds in serving both the green and orange lines with minimal interruption of service.

Champ De Mars

Champ De Mars opened in 1966 as part of the original metro network of Old Montreal. Designed by Adalbert Niklewicz, the station was built in open cut fashion due to the presence of weak surrounding rock. Quebec artist Mercelle Ferron designed the brilliant stained glass windows illuminating the mezzanine of the station.

Beaudry

Another station designed by Adalbert Niklewicz, Beaudry Metro Station contains a transept leading to a unique inclined moving sidewalk through a tunnel traversing the distance between De Maisonneuve Boulevard and Saint Catherine Street.

Acadie

Located in Montreal's Parc-Extension District, Acadie Metro Station is partially decorated in bold colors and local art pieces. Architects Henri Mercier, Pierre Boyer-Mercier, & Patrice Poirer built the traditional side platform station (as opposed to island platform) to open in 1988 as part of Montreal's blue line.

S.E. Bonneau

Architectural Images