Spanish Courses in Bilbao – the city of design

This week, Bilbao begins its unforeseen bid to be the Global Capital of Design for 2014, a recognition that it will share together with Dublin and Cape Town. This award is given to cities where design is widely and obviously spread throughout the city especially in order to improve the lives of its citizens and visitors. In October, the International Advisory Bureau for Industrial Design Societies (“El Consejo Internacional de Sociedades de Diseño Industrial”) will present the winner. All of us in Instituto Hemingway support the city’s candidacy without a doubt!
The solid bet from the Biscayan capital for the candidacy comes on account of its urban renovation along the shores of the River Nervión, which has been a decisive factor in attracting people interested in 21st Century culture, particularly its architecture, a theme which has been very much in vogue during the last decade. Buildings, bridges and monuments designed by globally famous architects have given an added “wow” factor to Bilbao´s cultural and gastronomic activities that have always provided entertainment in this beautiful corner of Spain.

The unique Metro designed by Norman Foster, our airport de la Paloma and the white bridge both designed by Santiago Calatrava, the Alhondiga building, redesigned as a multifunctional cultural centre by the creative genius Phillippe Starck, the marvellous Guggenheim Museum with the unmistakeable stamp of Frank O´Gehry, or the new skyscraper Torre Iberdrola masterminded by the architect Cesar Pelli. All these works stand tall in the city, advocating an urban change, all in the name of improving the quality of life of their citizens.

Here at Instituto Hemingway we are not short of reasons to support and celebrate the candidacy; this is why the school would like to share this architectural experience with its students, by organizing guided tours to get to know the more emblematic buildings and constructions in the city.

After Spanish classes, you can delve a little deeper into Spanish art and the career of many of the best geniuses of international architecture. For more information, get in contact with us.