--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A first building is like a first novel…" description: "\"A first building is like a first novel, it is always autobiographical.\" — Santiago Calatrava" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/santiago-calatrava-3749_always_a-first-building-is-like-a-first-novel-i_2359358.png" --- # A first building is like a first novel, it is always… ![“A first building is like a first novel, it is always autobiographical.” quote by Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/santiago-calatrava-3749_always_a-first-building-is-like-a-first-novel-i_2359358.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/santiago-calatrava-3749_always_a-first-building-is-like-a-first-novel-i_2359358.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/santiago-calatrava-3749_always_a-first-building-is-like-a-first-novel-i_2359358.png) > “A first building is like a first novel, it is always autobiographical.” [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early works reflect the creator’s personal story, shaping their unique style. **In simple terms:** First projects are autobiographical. Key Takeaway Embrace personal experience in design. Themes self‑expression architecture growth Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - designing a new building - starting a creative venture Key Concepts autobiographical design creative process artistic identity Questions to Reflect On - How does personal history influence your design choices? - When should you step beyond autobiographical themes? A Different Perspective May limit exploration beyond personal narrative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autobiographical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autobiographical/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) ## Related quotes > [All novels must be autobiographical because I am the only material that I know. All of the characters are me. But at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-banville/all-novels-must-be-autobiographical-because-i-am-the-only-material/) [John Banville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-banville/) > [ You need that same creative force that exists in a building like Disney \[Walt Disney Concert Hall\] to actually tackle that most prosaic of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcdonough/you-need-that-same-creative-force-that-exists-in-a-building-like/) [William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcdonough/) > [Just taking a piece of dirt and envisioning the building you'd like to put on it - it's an amazing process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-undertaker/just-taking-a-piece-of-dirt-and-envisioning-the-building-you-d-like/) [The Undertaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-undertaker/) > [This building is like a book. Its architecture is the binding, its text is in the glass and sculpture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-miller/this-building-is-like-a-book-its-architecture-is-the-binding-its-text/) Malcolm Miller > [“quoin trim, the YMI building was much like many of the buildings”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-kiernan/quoin-trim-the-ymi-building-was-much-like-many-of-the-buildings/) [Denise Kiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-kiernan/) > [I'm in the building like two planes bitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-m-in-the-building-like-two-planes-bitch/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [An old building is like a show. You smell the soul of a building. And the building tells you how to redo it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-mackintosh/an-old-building-is-like-a-show-you-smell-the-soul-of-a-building-and/) [Cameron Mackintosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-mackintosh/) > [“Referring to the church as a building is like referring to people as two-by-fours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-everts/referring-to-the-church-as-a-building-is-like-referring-to-people-as/) [Don Everts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-everts/) > [It is possible to make buildings by stringing together patterns, in a rather loose way. A building made like this, is an assembly of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-alexander/it-is-possible-to-make-buildings-by-stringing-together-patterns-in-a/) [Christopher Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-alexander/) > [I think of what the experience is of going into the building, of spending time in it, and try to get a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goldberger/i-think-of-what-the-experience-is-of-going-into-the-building-of/) [Paul Goldberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goldberger/) > [And a building must be like a human being. It must have a wholeness about it, something that is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minoru-yamasaki/and-a-building-must-be-like-a-human-being-it-must-have-a-wholeness/) [Minoru Yamasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minoru-yamasaki/) > [It's actually easier to do autobiographical stories. The story is already there. It's a matter of carving away what doesn't fit rather than building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/it-s-actually-easier-to-do-autobiographical-stories-the-story-is/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [Life is like a novel. You are the author and everyday is a new page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-like-a-novel-you-are-the-author-and-everyday-is-a-new-page/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's certainly a cliche to remark that a nonfiction book 'reads just like a novel,' but in the case of Jonathan Eig's 'The Birth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-di-filippo/it-s-certainly-a-cliche-to-remark-that-a-nonfiction-book-reads-just/) [Paul Di Filippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-di-filippo/) > [There is, in my mind, no higher compliment to pay a non-fiction book than to say it reads like a novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-weisman/there-is-in-my-mind-no-higher-compliment-to-pay-a-non-fiction-book/) [Jon Weisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-weisman/) ## More by Santiago Calatrava > [The bones of my architecture are very much related to the structure, to the physical fact of how a building can stand up; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-bones-of-my-architecture-are-very-much-related-to-the-structure/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [The architect is very interesting because the architect is the commander, meaning the one who commands all the workers. The architect is also the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-architect-is-very-interesting-because-the-architect-is-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [I remember, many years ago, coming over the Brooklyn Bridge in the night and seeing the skyline of Manhattan, with the Twin Towers. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/i-remember-many-years-ago-coming-over-the-brooklyn-bridge-in-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [I've never been interested in pure movement or pure stability, but in the unstable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/i-ve-never-been-interested-in-pure-movement-or-pure-stability-but-in/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [The concept of an "architect" is one of the oldest professions in the world. Whereas, some professions, such as a "lawyer", have their roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-concept-of-an-architect-is-one-of-the-oldest-professions-in-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [There is a change in the view about how condominiums are designed. People used to make prototype apartments and reproduce these boxes hundreds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/there-is-a-change-in-the-view-about-how-condominiums-are-designed/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [Bridges represent archetypal problems. They are artifacts that bring you across or around an obstacle. So they have an unbelievable force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/bridges-represent-archetypal-problems-they-are-artifacts-that-bring/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [There was a wish to get something exceptional, ... I also wanted to deliver something technically unique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/there-was-a-wish-to-get-something-exceptional-i-also-wanted-to/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [I always considered the role of teaching to be very noble and relevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/i-always-considered-the-role-of-teaching-to-be-very-noble-and-relevant/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [When I work on sculpture, I don't have to worry about function. When I work on a piece of architecture, I must think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/when-i-work-on-sculpture-i-don-t-have-to-worry-about-function-when-i/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [The Taj Mahal is a monument to love in all cultures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-taj-mahal-is-a-monument-to-love-in-all-cultures/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [Many of the architects I admire have given the best of themselves as they mature. I'm hoping to do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/many-of-the-architects-i-admire-have-given-the-best-of-themselves-as/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [I love the construction process and it is always important because we try to experiment and do something new, so the builders are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/i-love-the-construction-process-and-it-is-always-important-because-we/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [You start a project as a young person and then at the end you are another person. You are ready to go for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/you-start-a-project-as-a-young-person-and-then-at-the-end-you-are/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [Being an architect is like playing piano, you learn to play to admire how well the other guys play piano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/being-an-architect-is-like-playing-piano-you-learn-to-play-to-admire/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) [Explore all 123 Santiago Calatrava quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A first building is like a first novel, it is always autobiographical.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Santiago Calatrava" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/a-first-building-is-like-a-first-novel-it-is-always-autobiographical/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/a-first-building-is-like-a-first-novel-it-is-always-autobiographical/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/santiago-calatrava-3749_always_a-first-building-is-like-a-first-novel-i_2359358.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/santiago-calatrava-3749_always_a-first-building-is-like-a-first-novel-i_2359358.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/santiago-calatrava-3749_always_a-first-building-is-like-a-first-novel-i_2359358.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A first building is like a first novel, it is always autobiographical.” — Santiago Calatrava", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Santiago Calatrava", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A first building is like a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/a-first-building-is-like-a-first-novel-it-is-always-autobiographical/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/a-first-building-is-like-a-first-novel-it-is-always-autobiographical/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```