Bilbao Group PowerPoint

Once described as the ugliest city in Spain, Bilbao is a prime example of cultural led regeneration. The city shares many similarities with Belfast, from being an industrial powerhouse with thriving ports to post-industrial decline and violent political conflicts.

1

Bilbao is the largest port along Spain’s Atlantic coast in the heart of the Basque Country, surrounded by mountainous terrain on three sides and to the north by the sea.

2

Before, during and after the Spanish Civil War, Bilbao’s iron and steel industry continued to grow, with steel industry’s popping up along the banks of the Nervión river and the city’s ports expanded at unprecedented rates to increase coal imports to fuel the industries. The shipyards expanded to facilitate the construction of the larger ships that were now required, whilst rail road’s were laid to transport coal, heavy goods and materials; and local factories built the machinery and engines required. This turned Bilbao into the production and financial powerhouse of Spain. However, from 1975, industries began to close with unemployment in Bilbao climbing steeply, hitting 25% by 1985. As jobs went, so militant action grew. Realising the city had to change the Basque government sprang into action, with the city council launching public discussions on how to reshape the city.

3

In 1992 the Bilbao Ria 2000 regeneration organisation was formed with the intention of transforming the blighted industrial city. As a result of careful long-term planning, the regeneration organisation fulfilled its purpose, with areas previously occupied by shipyards, container beaches or blast furnaces being transformed into public spaces, open-air art galleries, new neighbourhoods and businesses, where the quality of architecture is a key factor. A strategy was put in place to ensure reinvestment into the city, requiring developers who gained significant profits to reinvest a portion of them into additional regeneration initiatives, creating a sustainable economic base to allow larger infrastructure projects to proceed to better connect the city.

4

Following major investment and landmark structures, the question is being asked, is Bilbao the best city in Spain?

5

As part of project 2 we were tasked to produce a map of Bilbao, with each individual map looking at a different aspect of the city with the overall theme agreed by the group to display the connectivity throughout the city, with each group member having a bridge in their jigsaw piece of the map.

6