Reconversion   d u    Pays Basque   l ' invention   d u    local planétaire

Culture, specially a cultural facility (Guggenheim Museum), has achieved the main change through a new image of Bilbao´s region. Major infrastructure works, as elements of the "Strategic Plan for Revitalisation of 1992", reform various substantial areas in the metropolitan region as the transport network (Metro), the new airport, the super-port, the river cleaning and the Technology Park of Zamudio.

Example : Abandoibarra

Emblematic and ambitious plan within Bilbao´s urban regeneration. Developed by the public enterprise of urban regeneration BILBAO RÍA 2000. In former times industrial site, afterwards container station owned by RENFE, parking and in disuse. We are talking about a 35 hectares ground along the riverside and between: Guggenheim Museum (opened in 1997) Euskalduna Palace (opened in 1999) Urban Development goals: Promoting the development of a central-urban area Creating new opportunities for investment and employment Surpassing the barrier effect Enhancing of the open spaces and green areas offer Recuperating the river as an urban element, leisure space and natural-aesthetic mil Timeline and evolution of the plan: In 1989 proposal for development in the First General Urban Plan In 1992 general proposals were given by Bilbao Metrópoli – 30 within the "Strategic Plan for the Revitalisation of Bilbao" Final approval in 1999 with the Special Reform Plan (PERI) designed by the architect Cesar Peli To date, the wharfs, the footbridge, the Commercial Centre Ría 21 and the Hotel are in building phase   Characteristics: Mixture of different uses by day and night: Green areas will occupy the 39,5% of the total area The leisure and shopping Centre Ría 21 inside the city (12%) Luxury hotel (6%), will create an international and lively atmosphere Resident apartments (34%) and offices (38%), University buildings (7%), a most wider, cheerful and dynamic milieu With all, the aim is to build a multi-usable site, combining work, leisure and commercial activities, achieving a lively ambient, security and social control.   Impacts over the creation of employment: a first comparison with other projects indicated the generation of between 1.000 y 4.000 new jobs on the Abandoibarra site (excluding the Museum and the Euskalduna Palace). through estimations (costs, future uses) a net employment effect of 2.607 new jobs have been calculated, including the jobs directly or indirectly generated by the Euskalduna Palace and the Guggenheim Museum, it is foreseen the creation or maintenance of almost 9.000 jobs, which means the area would hold an 8% of jobs in the city of Bilbao.

Impact of the urban regeneration

Citizens and Key Actors confirmed the positive effects of recent development and identified the Guggenheim Museum as a central aspect of the changes on factors such as : quality of life, regional identity, attractiveness, social welfare, generation of employment and economical activitie

Conclusion

Bilbao, so far, has not been able to take advantage of the second impact area. To date, there is no such thing as a new economic sector based on cultural activities, cultural industry or culture-related services. In this field, the lack of a integral strategy only led to individual activities, but no local or regional initiative could link the cultural magnets, the Museums, with new economic activities or with the attraction of value-added cultural industries

Professeur Jaime DEL CASTILLO
UPV (University of the Basque Country)