Bilbao: Candidate city for “World Design Capital 2014”!

The city of Bilbao has undergone a profound transformation in recent years. It is no longer the grey, industrial city of old, but has become a dynamic, open metropolis. In the last few decades, the city has reshaped itself into an architectural hot-spot: the Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank O. Ghery, the Zubi Zuri bridge by Calatrava, the Isozaki Towers or Norman Forster´s distinctive metro design, among others, make Bilbao an exciting centre of design.

Now, Bilbao hopes to become the 2014 World Design Capital . It was announced as one of the finalists, along with Dublin and Cape Town, on the 21st June at the International Conference of Design Societies.
The prize is awarded not just for the most dazzling architecture, but also as a recognition that the design improves the quality of life of the citizens. For this reason, the Bilbaínos (among others) believe that their city has the edge. In addition to the stunning examples detailed above, Bilbao boasts a fantastic Historic Quarter, an admirable Main Street, the beautiful Abandoibarra, the Monte Caramelo, and exemplary districts such as Deusto and San Ignacio. In short, it is a city for which we can all have high hopes.

We´re sure (why not!) that our Bilbao could be the winner of this important title. From all of us at the Instituto Hemingway, all of our support for the bid.

Don´t miss the video: Bilbao, the deisgn of cities