Ten years ago, a bizarre « it », a building between a ship and a gigantic fish, was anchored on the banks of the river Nervión, in the ex-industrial area of Bilbao. Its back was clad in titanium panels and its stomach was filled up with masterpieces of art. The Bilbaínos went down to see. They were dazzled by the sudden glare that flooded their grey city; shocked by the amount of money spent for this project, totally funded by the Basque authorities, they were incredulous of the future. Ten years later, this « it », the Guggenheim Museum, changed the city’s image. Bilbao, the former coal-mining city has become like the Mecca of modern architecture and avant guard design, and consequently a boosting tourist destination.

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Photos ©Massimo Pizzocaro/Lightmediation Text ®Elisavet Laloudaki

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