BILBAO, TRANSFORMATION AND URBAN

REGENERATION: A city to imitate?

Main keys of urban regeneration in an old industrial
region

0.Introduction
Foreword

WHAT HAS IT HAPPENED?

SOME AWARDS OBTAINED BY BILBAO SINCE 2000 : (40 DISTINCTIONS)

2000/01 UE. Cleaning innovation and waste managing

2004 CITT DACQUA AWARD

2004 VENICE, BIENNIAL OF ARCHITECTURE Regeneration of the rivers banks award.

2004 EUROPEAN BOARD OF URBANISM AWARD

2005- ISOCARP AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

2005 ITALIAN SECTION OF MUNICIPALITIES AND EUROPEAN REGIONS COMMITTEE Supporting strategies to
culture

2009 EUROPEAN MONITOR OF GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS AWARD

2010 SINGAPUR CITY-STATE AND SWEEDEN NOBEL ACADEMY

2010- EXPO SHANGAI

2011 AWARD TO BEST EUROPEAN CARGO TRANSPORT PROJECT

2011- UN/PNUMA: DISTINCTION LIV-COM AWARD

BILBAOS EFFECT? Myth or Reality.

Some bibliographic references

Anderson, Gordon T., 2004, The Milwaukee Effect in FORTUNE Review

Bailey, Martin, 2002, The Bilbao Effect, FORBES Review
Baniotopoulou, Evdoxia, 2001, Art for Whose Sake? Modern Art Museums and their
Role in Transforming Societies: The Case of the Guggenheim Bilbao
Ceballos Gonzlez, Sara, The role of the Guggenheim Museum in the
development of urban entrepreneurial practices in Bilbao
Echenique, Flowerdew, Hunt, Mayo, Skidmore & D. C. Simmonds, 2007, The
MEPLAN models of Bilbao, Leeds and Dortmund.
Giovannini, Joseph, 2001, The Bilbao effect. Moving beyond national borders, citystates are emerging on the global map, powered by world-class architecture.
Gospodini, Aspa, 2004, Urban morphology and place identity in European cities:
built heritage and innovative design. The case of Bilbao, in Urban Design.
Plaza, B., Tironi, Manuel & Haarich, Silke, 2006, Bilbao's Art Scene and the
Guggenheim effect Revisited
Quiabg, Dou, 2003, BILBAO EFFECT One building brings regeneration of a city
BILBAO EFFECT One building brings regeneration of a city
Siemiatycki, Matti, 2005, Beyond moving people: excavating the motivations for
investing in urban public transit infrastructure in Bilbao Spain, in European Planning
Studies.
/

I. BMA. Location
and Description
The Geographical Context of the Process

BILBAO METROPOLITAN AREA:

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

SOME GEOGRAPHICAL DATA

A GENERAL VIEW

BILBAO METROPOLITAN AREA:

COMPOSITION AND
CHARACTERISTICS
MUNICIPIOS
BILBAO
Barakaldo
Getxo
Portugalete
Santurtzi
Basauri
Leioa
Galdakao
Sestao
Erandio
Trapagaran
Arrigorriaga
Abanto Zierbena
Etxebarri
Ortuella
Muskiz
Berango
Derio
Sondika
Zamudio
Alonsotegi
Lezama
Loiu
Larrabetzu
Zaratamo
Zierbena
AMB

Poblacin
353.296
99.074
80.418
47.739
46.810
42.542
30.165
29.194
28.970
24.185
12.262
12.183
9.722
9.644
8.408
7.287
6.790
5.751
4.473
3.188
2.838
2.472
2.447
1.919
1.720
1.382
874.879

Extensin
/Km2
41
29
12
3
7
7
9
32
4
18
13
16
18
3
8
21
9
7
6
18
16
17
16
21
10
9
370

Densidad
8.552
3.371
6.763
14.872
6.547
6.069
3.540
922
8.184
1.346
938
752
539
2.958
1.088
351
766
777
710
176
177
149
157
90
172
151
2.364

The BMA is an urban continuum of 26 municipalities:

Total population of urban metropolitan area reaches 874.000

inhabitants (2010)

The overall surface is 370 kms2.

High density. In some municipalities the density reaches 14.000

inhabitants/km2 (Portugalete) provoking hard problems to solve for
urban planners (no physical space for cars)

A structural feature of BMA is the lack of urban land for new

developments. All urban land is practically occupied, just the
opportunity coming from ancient urban renovation projects may allow
new projects. These have to be done outside of metropolitan area

The opportunity created as consequence of the lockout provided the

necessary land to undertake new projects

BILBAO METROPOLITAN AREA:

DEMOGRAPHICAL TRENDS
YEAR

POPULATION

AGI %

1981

936.848

1986

926.949

-0,21

1991

905.468

-0,47

1996

887.977

-0,39

2001

865.799

-0,51

2006

867.777

0,05

2010

874.879

0,16

AGI = Annual Growth Index

Source: EUSTAT

BILBAO METROPOLITAN AREA:

ACTIVITY & UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
Unemployment rate has come down
from the end of 80s, but right now has
increased up to 15% (Spain 25%)

1996-2006 Deep transformation of

the BMAs productive structure

35

1996
0,3
0,1
0,1
25,3

2001
0,4
0,1
0,1
19,2

2006
0,3
0,1
0,1
16,5

1,6

1,1

0,6

7,0

9,8

10,7

13,7

15,1

16,4

4,9
7,8
3,9
9,1
7,6
7,4
6,8
3,6
0,7
0,0
100

5,4
7,9
3,3
10,8
6,5
7,2
7,5
3,5
2,3
0,0
100

6,0
6,3
3,1
15,0
4,9
6,1
7,8
4,5
1,7
0,0
100

30

25

20
%

SECTORES DE ACTIVIDAD
Agriculture, crop and hunting
Fishing, aquaculture
Mining and quarrying
Manufacturing
Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation
activities
Construction
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and
motorcycles
Accommodation and food service activities
Transportation and storage
Financial and insurance activities
Real estate activities
Public administration and defence; compulsory social security
Education
Human health and social work activities
Other service activities
Activities of households as employers
Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies
Gran Bilbao

BMA. Evolution of unemployment rate

15

10

1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010

Margen Derecha

25,6

23,5

25

21,5

18

16,5

8,9

12,4

13

6,3

2,4

4,2

6,4

Bilbao

28,9

25,9

26,2

25,6

20,7

19,5

13,1

10,2

10,8

7,2

4,8

4,9

9,5

11

32

30,1

29,3

25,9

20,3

18,6

10,1

11,6

7,3

4,5

3,8

10,6

8,6

Margen izquierda

12,2

BILBAO METROPOLITAN AREA: Land

for Economic Activities and Rent
No urban land for new
economic activities
Land classified by Territorial Planning SUITABLE to host new economic activities (in
a 8 years term)
Private
Public
MUNICIPIO
TOTAL (H) Developers(H Developers(H
s)
s)
Abanto-Zierbena
83
25
58
Alonsotegi
0
0
0
Barakaldo
0
0
0
Muskiz
0
0
0
Ortuella
54
12
42
Portugalete
0
0
0
Santurtzi
0
0
0
Sestao
0
0
0
Trapagaran
0
0
0
Zierbena
0
0
0
MARGEN IZQUIERDA
137
37
100
BILBAO
0
0
0
Derio
15
0
15
Erandio
22
22
0
Larrabetzu
0
0
0
Lezama
77
0
77
Loiu
49
49
0
Sondika
0
0
0
Berango
7
7
0
Getxo
12
0
12
Leioa
14
14
0
Zamudio
48
26
22
MARGEN DERECHA
244
118
126
Arrigorriaga
0
0
0
Basauri
0
0
0
Etxebarri
0
0
0
Galdakao
2
2
0
Zaratamo
0
0
0
BAJO NERVION
2
2
0
BILBAO METROPOLITAN AREA
383
157
226

Maintenance of purchasing
power
50.000

BMA. YEARLY INCOME (ON AVERAGE)

40.000

30.000

20.000

10.000

2001

2003

2006

Familiar Rent

29.519

32.186

39.181

Personal Rent

12.383

13.416

17.519

II. The Landscape of

Urban Regeneration
Process
The economic crisis in 80s really became in an
urban crisis

90s. THE AIM OF METROPOLITAN REGENERATION

PROCESS: The Generalized Crisis of the Basque
Industrial Model

Crisis of the industrial production mode affecting of majority

metropolitan municipalities
Generalized lock out of steel and shipbuilding factories
Urban crisis

Formerly the Urban land of city center had

been occupied by old exhausted mines and
it was totally necessary a wasting
management policy

90s. THE AIM OF METROPOLITAN REGENERATION PROCESS .

An important part of city center occupied by the remains of
the old steel factories and cargo rail infrastructures
In the late of 90s, a view of the remains of
Santa Ana steel factory sited in one of the
most populated neighborhoods

A view of the old cargo rail useless

infrastructures in the city center

90s. THE AIM OF METROPOLITAN REGENERATION PROCESS. The

Environmental Regeneration: Special Planning for the Integral
Recovery of the River (1980-2000)
1979

1976

2003

2006

90s. THE AIM OF METROPOLITAN

REGENERATION PROCESS: RECOVERING OF
DEGRADED SPACES
1979

2003

III. Managing
the Strategic
Plan
General scheme of the model of management

Managing The Strategic Plan:

Some Elements (I)
1. AGENTS:

2. THE OWNERS

3. LIMITS:

PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION
PRIVATE OWNERS
DEVELOPPERS
BILBAO RIA 2000
BILBAO
METROPOLI 30

85 % PUBLIC
15% PRIVATE

No Investments
Pollution
Legal
fragmentation
No public
investments .

4.
0PPORTUNITIES:
Autonomy
Financial
instruments
Institutional
Commitment
Supporting
committed
sectors

Managing The Strategic Plan:

the Agents - Developers
BILBAO
RIA
2000

ACTIVITY

CHARACTER

To act as a private development agency

BILBAO
METROPOLI
30

ACTIVITY

To take forward the Strategic Plan

To serve as a Forum for citizen

participation
To project and sell the image of
Bilbao in a global world

Public

To coordinate to different actors of

the civil society
Participated by different Administration
levels

CHARACTER
MANAGING

As private firm. Committee Board to adopt

decisions

More than 120 entities (non

lucrative and lucrative)
participated in the seminars and
work groups

Unanimity in decision making of the

Committee Board
Balanced representation

FUNCTIONING

Managerial
Promote new developments
Selling the urban land to private
developers
Reinvesting surplus for financing new
projects

RESOURCES

Semi public and private

Leasing of urban land done by public

administration and private owners

FUNCTIONING

Creation of Work Groups

Establishing comittments between

private and public sectors

Selecting the priorities in terms of

estrategic plannin

Managing the Strategic

Plan: Methodology
IMPORTANCE

PRIME MOVER EFFECT

METHODOLOGY USED
IN THE SELECTION OF
THE STRATEGIC
PROJECTS

VIABILITY

OPPORTUNITY

Managing the Strategic

Plan: Prime Movers Axis
INVESTMENT IN HUMAN RESOURCES
SERVICE METROPOLIS IN A MODERN INDUSTRIAL REGION

MOBILITY ABD ACCESIBILITY

ENVIRONMENTAL REGENERATION
URBAN REGENERATION
CULTURAL CENTRALITY
COORDINATED MANAGEMENT BY THE PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION AND PRIVATE SECTOR

SOCIAL ACTION

IV. The Rhythm

of
Transformations

BILBAO RIA 2000: Investments

1997-2004
435.169.419
381.853.646

317.281.028

258.968.463
215.309.519
181.426.437

125.355.908
85.107.919

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

1980-2010 A FRENETIC RITHM

1980-2000 Plan Saneamiento Integral de la Ra
1987. Plan General de Ordenacin Urbana de Bilbao
1991. Bilbao-Ra 2000
1991. Strategic Plan Starting
1992. Strategic Plan was Approved
1993-1994: Master Plan Abando Ibarra
1994. Inaugurated Bilbao Metro (N. Foster)
1996. Aeropuerto de Bilbao (S. Calatrava)
1997. Inaugurated Guggenheim Museum (F. Gehry)
1999. Palacio Euskalduna Concerto Hall (F. Soriano)
2004. Bilbao Exhibition Center
2010. Alhondiga Building (Philipe Stark)
2011. Garellano Master Plan (Richard Rogers)
2012. Iberdrola Tower (Pellii)
.
TOTAL EXECUTED MORE THA 150 PROJECTS IN 20 YEARS

V. THE RESULTS
Urban and infrastructural projects

REENFORCING THE CENTRALITY: THE

ABANDO IBARRA PROJECT
1992

2009

ADDING NEW RESIDENTIAL SPACE IN

OLD RAIL CARGO ZONE
1994

2009

ACCONDITIONING OLD INDUSTRIAL

SPACES: BARAKALDO PROJECT
1998

2009

COVERING RAILROAD LINES

1990

2005

REBUILDING OLD DEGRADED

ZONES

1994. WAS INAUGURATED THE

METRO

1992. WORKS FOR ENLARGEMENT THE

EXTERIOR PORT

1997- REINFORCING THE CULTURAL

CENTRALITY: Museo Guggenheim-Bilbao was
inaugurated (Frank Gehry)

REINFORCING THE CULTURAL FACILITIES:

2011. LA ALHONDIGA (Philipe Stark)
outside

inside

V. CONCLUSIONS

CONCLUSIONS
The regional level may be an excellent platform to reach an
agreement to face the future
The political capacity to reach an agreement is definitive

The Public System may be an excellent leader to carry out the

transformation: legitimacy
The success lay on the capacity to imagine and to articulate effective
mechanisms for the transformation
The participation of the driving forces is determinant
Initially there is an important amount of people reluctant with the
process as the projects are executing the support increases
significantly
Always the transformation implies non-controlled effects, f.i. an
important raising of the housing prices