The Transformation of Bilbao

1
The Transformation of Bilbao

• Alfonso Martinez Cearra
• Bilbao Metropoli-30

2
Metropolitan Bilbao

• 1 million inhabitants
• Largest urban area in Southern Atlantic Europe
• Economic capital of 5 million people region
• Pioneer of industrialization in Spain
• Main Port in Northern Spain
• Int. Exhibition Centre
• Stock Exchange
• European Agency for Health Safety at Work
• European Software Institute

3
The 1980s A turning point

• Decline of manufacturing base
• High unemployment
• Demographic recession
• Challenges of globalization
• Change in international investment criteria

4
Cultural dilemmas

• Manufacturing-services
• Tangible-intangible
• Local-cosmopolitan
• State-market

5
The Strategic Revitalization Process

• Metropolitan Bilbao develops a Revitalization
  Plan
• The Plan shapes the success vision
• Public and private actors engage in a strategic
  conversation
• Metropolitan Bilbao builds social capital

6
8 Critical Issues

• Investment in Human Resources
• Services and Manufacturing
• Mobility and Accessibility
• Environmental Regeneration
• Urban Regeneration
• Cultural Centrality
• Public-private Coordination
• Social Welfare

7
Flagship Projects

• The renewal of the Waterfront
• New Underground Railway
• Airport terminal and runway
• Harbour extension
• Technology Park

8
New Waterfront

• Cultural Area and Business District
• 35 ha in the heart of the city
• 375 MEuro
• Three major landmarks
• Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
• Conference and Concert Hall Euskalduna
• Cesar Pellis Tower

9
Conference and Concert Hall Euskalduna

• Musical performances and congress activities
• Naval architecture, resembles the hull of a
  vessel
• Surface 25,000 m2
• Opened Feb. 1999
• Economic impact in 2000 47 MEuro

10
New Bilbao Airport

• Main Airport in Northern Spain
• Investment 65 MEuro
• Surface 25,000 m2
• 4 million pax/year
• Architect Santiago Calatrava
• Opened in Nov. 2000

11
Bilbao Underground Railway

• Investment 600 MEuro
• 54 million pax in 2000
• Self-financing rate 90
• Architect Sir Norman Foster
• Opening
• Phase 1 1995
• Phase 2 2002

12
Bilbao Harbour Extension

• Key asset for the metropolitan area
• On-shore facilities 3,5 million m2
• 8 km of docks
• Draughts 21 to 25 m
• Investment 650 MEuro

13
Technology Park

• Surface 2 million m2
• Building space 360,000 m2
• 97 high-tech companies
• 4,300 jobs
• Turnover 843 MEuro in 2000
• Telecommunications, environment, software,
  aeronautics...

14
Guggenheim Bilbao Museum

• International Centre of Modern and Contemporary
  Art
• Titanium, Glass, Limestone and Water
• Architect Frank O. Gehry
• The landmark of metropolitan Bilbao
• Surface 24,000 m2
• Opened OCT 97
• 1 million visitors/yr