Santiago Calatrava is a controversial architect, somewhat in the mold of Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright.
A Ph.D. engineer as well as an architect, he is a designer of the first order, creating neo-modernist sculptures that also serve as buildings.
A Calatrava bridge, museum or train station, quite often inspired by designs found in nature, can turn an otherwise nondescript locale into a tourist attraction. A bright star on the architectural map.
More Florida buildings I love:
Now in his mid-60s, Calatrava appears to be as sensitive as his architecture. Former Lakeland reporter Mary Toothman of The Ledger described Calatrava as a kind, “very sweet” man. She expected arrogance, but instead found herself interviewing a man with a bit of attention-deficit disorder who sketched a profile of her as they spoke.