15 Apr 2016
Santiago Calatrava to receive lifetime achievement award at LEAF Architect Awards
BY Kim Megson
Swiss-Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava will receive a lifetime achievement award at the 2016 LEAF International conference in London in October.
Calatrava – who this week officially unveiled his design for what will be one of the world’s tallest towers in Dubai – is being recognised for his “unique vision and ability to transform cities through impactful design."
LEAF, which stands for Leading European Architecture Forum, is an annual gathering of architects, contractors, developers, engineers, designers and suppliers to network and discuss future projects. This year’s event will be held in London on October 14.
A special LEAF Architect Awards ceremony at the conference will hand out prizes in several categories, including Building of the Year, Mixed-use Building of the Year, International Interior Design Award, Hospitality Building of the Year and Public Building of the Year.
“LEAF is honoured to recognise Santiago Calatrava with the Lifetime Award for his unique vision and ability to transform cities through impactful design,” said the event’s organisers in a statement. “From New York to Rio to Doha, Mr. Calatrava has crafted spaces that are both visually striking and forward-thinking. His work, both iconic and inspirational, has left an indelible mark on the discipline.”
An international panel of industry figures chose to honour Calatrava for the breadth and impact of his buildings, particularly the Oculus World Trade Center Transportation Hub in New York and the Shard Crossing in Doha, Qatar.
Past winners of the LEAF lifetime achievement award include Moshe Safdie and Daniel Libeskind.
Calatrava is enjoying a particularly successful period at the moment. Long-running projects the Museum of Tomorrow and the Oculus have recently opened, and in November he was awarded the prestigious European Prize for Architecture.
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