Valencian architect/engineer Santiago Calatrava is the favorite son of his fair city, and he has created some amazing buildings there. He designed most of the buildings in the Ciutat de les Arts i e les Ciènces (City of Arts and Sciences), including the "Museu de les Ciènces" and the planetarium "L'Hemisfèric." He also designed a parking structure and a bridge through the middle of the complex. The other major building on the site is the Palau de les Arts.

The buildings are interesting, striking organic white forms out of reinforced concrete. However, they dwarf human scale, and seem like they are design for the sake of design, not motivated by function. The plazas are barren and lifeless, a feeling not helped by a December day or repair work on some of the reflecting pools.

Ciutat de les Arts i e les Ciènces. Museu de les Ciènces. L'Hemisfèric.
Valencia, España. (Spain)
Santiago Calatrava. 1998.

External link: Ciutat de les Arts i e les Ciènces. (Home Page).