Bilbao, a World Example of Sustainable Urban Development Selected from among 113 competing cities from around the world, Bilbao was present at the World Expo 2010 Shanghai as an example of sustainable urban development, as well as closely tied to the new economy of creation and Knowledge. The city's display told the story of the transformation by means of interplay of art and multimedia. Sculpture, paintings and images were just some of the elements chosen to show the city's essence. Bilbao's transformation from an industrial city to one of services and of Knowledge was thus revealed to the world. Entitled “Bilbao Guggenheim ++�, Bilbao's stand at Expo 2010 Shanghai explained the profound transformation of the city realised over a period of 25 years. The stand articulated how an environmentally deteriorated city, with an industrial production system in crisis, has transformed into one of the most attractive cities in Europe today. Bilbao's pavilion was like a closed box, with light playing a major role. It was projected to be an artistic representation of the revolutions that have marked the city's history: the Industrial Revolution, the Urban Revolution and the Revolution of Knowledge. Receiving a large number of visitors, Bilbao's stand was located in the Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA), next to that of Paris and Osaka.
Bilbao presents the three revolutions the city has undergone: the industrial revolution, the urban revolution of the last 25 years and the future knowledge revolution.
The art of Jes煤s Mari Lazkano Bilbao welcomes you with a work of the renowned Basque painter Jes煤s Mari Lazkano, in the entrance to the pavilion. Like a window looking onto Bilbao, this large-scale painting depicts the main works of architecture, past, present and future, that line the river, the real backbone of the successive transformations of the city. Welcome to Bilbao.
The city and its people through pictures A multimedia presentation lights up the pavilion with spectacular images of the city, turning the pavilion walls into huge screens showing visitors the new Bilbao and enabling real-time connection of the two cities. The two cities will thus share their development and knowledge.
Magical showcases
A symbolic sculpture of light The central showpiece of the exhibition area is a large-scale, light fl ooded wax-based structural representation of Bilbao. The work of the artist Esther Pizarro, the sculpture expresses the vivacity of the city and portrays its urban development. Topography is recreated through space and the absence of light, in contrast with the radiant verve of the city.
Fourteen showcases exhibit some of the most important elements of the city, ranging from the City Charter granted by Don Diego L贸pez de Haro, the founder of Bilbao, to singular exhibits distinguishing the city from others, such as its trademark paving stones. The City Charter, the Ordinances of the Consulate of Bilbao, the Hanging Bridge, the Alh贸ndiga, Zorrotzaurre, Metro Bilbao, the Guggenheim Museum, the Iberdrola Tower, the Pedro Arrupe footbridge, Athletic Club football team, gastronomy, the network of wine-producing towns and various objects typifying Bilbao make up this magical area showcasing the essence of the city.
BILBO MMX. The Art of Jesus Mari LAZKANO A painting by the prestigious Basque painter Jesus Mari LAZKANO welcomed visitors to the stand. The large work, “Bilbo MMX�, was like an open window on the city, depicting the main architectural landmark constructions from the past, present and future along the River, a true artery, which with its life-blood both feeds and unites the successive changes in the city.
A SCULPTURE OF LIGHT as a symbol By artist Esther PIZARRO, the central component of the pavilion was a huge sculpture of light and matter, an artistic rendering of the urban structure of Bilbao. Displaying the evolution of the city, it is a living interpretation of Bilbao's architectural highlights. Measuring thirteen metres in length and six metres in width, this work provided visitors insight to both the changes in Bilbao.
As with a living organism, the visual aspect of this artistic expression varied according to the changes in light, focusing on the areas of the city's metamorphosis. The materials used related the history of Bilbao's three revolutions. First, the Industrial Revolution, with the use of metal, which takes us back to the industrial period. Second, the Urban Revolution, the city's organic and changeable personality is expressed with luminous volumes of wax-covered methacrylato. Third and last, the Revolution of Knowledge, symbolised by a complex lighting system continuously altering the sculpture's aspect, combined with projections on the walls of the pavilion.
THE CITY AND HER PEOPLE in Images Spectacular images take one on a multimedia tour of the city and surrounds. With the walls turned into giant screens, projections could be viewed which connected the cities of Bilbao and Shanghai in real time.
MAGIC SHOWCASES To complete the exhibit, some of the most significant elements of the city could be seen in showcases. From the Charter of Foundation granted by the founder of Bilbao, Lord Diego Lopez de Haro, in the year 1300, to unique items that set the city apart, such as the baldosas de Bilbao, pavement tiles. Other elements that played a prominent role in the exhibit were: the Ordinances of the Consulate of Bilbao, a set of commercial rules predating the first world Commercial Code; Bizkaia Bridge; la Alh贸ndiga, Zorrotzaurre; Metro Bilbao; the Guggenheim Museum; Iberdrola Tower; Athletic Football Club; cuisine and the Great Wine Capitals Network, among others. In short, a wide variety of components divulged the soul of Bilbao to visitors to the stand.
SHOWCASE 1. CHARTER OF FOUNDATION The 15th of June of the year 1300 saw the Charter of Foundation granted to the Villa of Bilbao by Lord Diego Lopez de Haro, Señor de Bizkaia. This constituted the local statutes regulating life of the inhabitants of the town. SHOWCASE 2. BIZKAIA BRIDGE Inaugurated on 28th July 1893, Bizkaia Bridge was the first transporter bridge of its kind in the world built with a sheet iron structure. On display are a facsimile of the original technical drawings from 1892. SHOWCASE 3. ORDINANCES OF CONSULATE OF BILBAO The excellence of the Ordinances of Bilbao became a reference for other Merchants' Leagues, throughout Spain, 19 Latin American countries and in the Philippines, pre-dating the French Commercial Code, created by Napoleon in 1807, the first of its kind in the world. SHOWCASE 4. ZORROTZAURRE ISLAND Bilbao will soon be kicking off the project of Zorrotzaurre Island as Knowledge District in the heart of the River. From a peninsula with industrial and residential buildings in ruins, to an island of innovation, the new Zorrotzaurre will be a modern residential area, as well as home to an urban technological park. SHOWCASE 5. ALHÓNDIGA BILBAO Over 40,000 sq. m. devoted to knowledge, education, health & wellness, mental exercise, water activities, physical activity, and much more, all with the innovative stamp of Philippe STARCK. SHOWCASE 6. METRO BILBAO Metro Bilbao has transported close to 1 billion passengers since opening to the public on 11th November 1995. The Metro was designed by Sir Norman FOSTER, winner of the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize. SHOWCASE 7. GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM BILBAO The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, work of architect Frank O. GEHRY, is one of the most spectacular pieces of architecture of the 20th century and the start of a new way of doing architecture.
SHOWCASE 8. IBERDROLA TOWER Designed by Cesar PELLI, this tower will be the flagship project of the revitalization of Abandoibarra. Its 165 metres will make it the tallest edifice in Bilbao. This great business centre will be the home to the future corporate offices of the electrical company of Basque origin. SHOWCASE 9. FATHER PEDRO ARRUPE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE The new Bilbao, cohesive and connected, is reborn with the construction of new bridges. SHOWCASE 10. CUISINE An integral part of the culture of Bilbao, fine dining is most highly valued. This explains how much importance is placed on the use of choice seasonal ingredients and natural produce. The Slow Food movement guarantees maximum quality and economic sustainability of responsible food production. SHOWCASE 11. ATHLETIC CLUB One of the three football teams to have only ever played in the First Division of the Spanish League, along with FC Barcelona and Real Madrid football teams. Five times League Champions and King's Cup winners in the same season. Athletic Club was also the first team to actually own the League trophy, a rare honour, achieved only by winning five alternate times or three times consecutively. SHOWCASE 12. GREAT WINE CAPITALS. BILBAO-RIOJA The Great Wine Capitals is a global network of eight cities, spanning both hemispheres, sharing economic and cultural values and world-renowned wine-growing regions. SHOWCASE 13. THE QUINTESSENTIAL BILBAO Curiosities and unique pieces typically from Bilbao selected and compiled by artist Tomas ONDARRA.
A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t s Over 1.2 million visitors are a testament to the fact that the “Bilbao Guggenheim ++” stand was a benchmark of quality and excellence of service. Indeed, the Bilbao stand was awarded a prize in recognition of the best overall stand, in terms of the team and equipment in the Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA) of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai. "Bilbao Guggenheim ++", was visited by, among others, the Hon. Jose Manuel DURAO BARROSO, President of the European Commission; the Hon. Jose Luis RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO, Spanish Prime Minister; the Hon. Jose BONO, Speaker of the Spanish Congress, along with the mayors of Madrid, Barcelona, Montreal and Taipei.
Bilbao's Aste Nagusia weeklong August festivities were also celebrated at World Expo 2010 Shanghai with a free concert played by the group Fito & Fitipaldis, in UBPA Square, opposite the pavilion where the Bilbao exhibit was located. "Bilbao Guggenheim ++" was also a meeting point for representatives from diverse Bilbao-based and Basque companies, and high-ranking executives from major Chinese and Asian companies alike. Some of the Basque companies who paid a visit to the Bilbao stand were: Danobat Group, Fagor Group, Skat Group, Viuda de Sainz, Bikar, Caf, Ulma Construcción, Arquiplan, DHL, Indra, FCC, Bilbao Bizkaia KutxaSavings Bank, Ormazabal Group, Cosimet, Cie Automitive and Viscofan.