Guggenheim Museum. I am a very happy!

Frank Gehry designed a modern avant-garde 20th century museum that rates with all the other world class art institutions. 32,500 square meters in the center of the city, one side facing the Nervion river, starting 16 meters below the city, another side connecting to the Puente de La Salve bridge. This is the main route into the city. A genius in how he incorporated this magnificent structure into the frame of the city. Yes it sticks out, you know u are looking at a piece of sculpture among all the other buildings both old and new. Limestone interconnecting with glass, steel and titanium, sharp angles, sinuous curves, yours senses are overwhelmed with its beauty.

The glass is treated with special coatings to maintain the interior temperature yet is translucent. Computer technology used to curve the titanium, place the stones and create all the interior galleries. Quite the undertaking. Not to worry the glass protects the interior of the museum by protective fabrics fixed to the glass.

Once inside the atrium is 1 1/2 times higher than the NYC Guggenheim. You look up to soaring ceilings dissected with walkways, elevator made of glass and steel that reaches the upper floors. Light comes in from all sides and Gehry had created the most outrageous galleries that house enormous pieces of art. More on this later. There is 11 thousand sq feet of gallery space. 10 galleries are classic orthogonal space, 10 others irregularly shaped, a great contrast. Because of the large and unusual shapes very large scale pieces can be displayed, yet seems to fit. You don’t feel overwhelmed by the space. Integrated is the outdoor sculptures that enhance the museum and the city as well. Jeff Koons sculptures bright and shining against the backdrop of the exterior. This is why Bilbao has drawn tourists from the world to witness such magnificence.