I've just recently come back from northern spain and of cousre while I was there I had to visit one of the architectural wonders of the world, a certain Franks Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, a truly spectacular building, but one where the divide between art and architecture blur, but that is a altogether different subject, just sit back loo at the pictures and enjoy.

All photos where take with a Pentax Optio X at 3 Megapixels although they have been compressed to be put on here.

A view from across the the Bilbao river

Jazzy.

Another view from across the river.

A close up from across the river

One of the main routes into the city crosses the river via a high bridge next to the Guggenheim musuem itself, I was suprised to see this as it is usually not shown in the architectural press.

Soon we'll be inside don't you worry!!!

Me outside, how very tourist-like! Oh an of course to show a sense of scale!!!!

Another of the entrance/exit

Now we're inside the building, where we all love to be, especially as despite it looking sunny outside there was torrential rain when I was there!!

As you have probably guessed by now I am a fan of black and white

I found it amazing how the frames of the glazed areas created shadows and I have to say Franks (me and frank are like this ;) )use of light is simply amazing

Up up and away!

Maybe a little dark, but i'll let you use your own discression

Models of Richard Serra's sculptures which are house in the Guggenheim, you're not allowed to take phots anywhere but I managed to sneak all these photos for you lucky people!!

Oh and if anyone has any photos of Richard Serra's work I would love to see them, I exect otheres would too!

I though bold might make someone take note :cheers:

A couple of colour exterior details that I forgot

Thats your lot for now I hope you all enjoy this visual feast!

Thank you for these images. They show parts of the museum that are not usually seen in publications. The close up pics show the depth and dimension of the waves of the buildings that cannot be seen in the general views.
I also find that black and white pics are very well suited for this particular building since the colors of the materials don't add much to the design, they seem to be just a consequence of the design.
Great pics!

btw, you should be raising your arm in the 6th post in a modulor like fashion LOL

love the shots in post no.3 and post no.15, they are so grey and almost black+white yet the glass is coloured blue... very nice

I guess thats whay I felt posting them in black and white would be appropriate, you are right Kevin, apart from the sky reflected in the glass there is no colour in this building (well at least there was the time I was there) apart from the white and sandstone inside. It would be interesting to see if anyone has any other photographs to contradict mine.

Jazzy.

Hey Jazzy, thanks for your pictures. I agree with Kevin, was also impressed by the blue tint in the otherwise gray pictures!

This project was very important for its urban implantation, I'm surprised you said you didn't know about the bridge next to it.

I understand Ghery chose the site himself, this was the least preferred by the city officials.

Here is the google earth place mark, quite usefull to understand the impact on the city.
There used to be old abandoned shipyards in this place, one of the main industries of Bilbao but that had almost disappeared and accounted for he city's decay.
This project undoubtedly gave Bilbao a new life.
There was fierce opposition by local artist who feared Guggenheim would be a sort of MC Donalds of the Arts.

Oh and if anyone has any photos of Richard Serra's work I would love to see them, I exect otheres would too!

I though bold might make someone take note :cheers:

http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/serra_richard.html

a quick contribution from the top of the Google list.


Serra's abilty to create space from mere sheets of steel is testiment to the fundamentals of techtonics. Habitable sculpture of the most minimal sort.

I've only ever "inhabited" the piece in front of the Pittsburgh, PA art museum, a verticle combination of four gently twisting arcs. It's quite an experience, like being trapped at the bottom of a well maybe. You just walk in ther and the light and sound are suddenly so different it's disorientating. And then there is the fear, like, "what's holding this thing up!??", especially if it's windy. I can see why his "Tilted Arc" caused such controversy.



gV

Here is the piece, with added figure to indicate scale. :D

Very nice series of images Jazzy. Quite often architectural photography is intended to express the nature of the content, its detailing, and its scale. I feel in this set of images you have transcended the "typical" architectural photography and have evoked emotion, and drama in your imagry. :not worth

And then there is the fear, like, "what's holding this thing up!??", especially if it's windy. I can see why his "Tilted Arc" caused such controversy.

The main controversy behind Tilted Arc was the way it forced people to change their daily routine of going to and from the subway station across the federal plaza to work. The local office workers were upset by having to navigate round the sculpture and add an extra 15 seconds to their daily journey to work. They complained and it was removed.

Serra's response was "art is not democratic, it's not for the people." !!!

beautiful photos from the dog's house!! But you forget about puppie!!! :P

ok... i'll stop joking... More photos from an horrible rainy day visiting bilbao

I love the movement

Photo from the other side of the river (side of the main entrance)... not a good shot but it's a diferent view as it's always shown

a photo taken when we where in the boat

those cubes were a temporaly exposition... but I think they got nothing to do there, don't macht with the museum...

Calatrava´s bridge (you might wanted to know that there was one there...) : the Guggenheim is at the end... behind the green bridge...

those cubes were a temporaly exposition... but I think they got nothing to do there, don't macht with the museum...


LOL!!!!......

dont match with the museum?.....how will something dont match with a ghery's design?, considering its the other way around (gehrys designs doenst match with whatever contexts theyre on).

Well, that was a funny remark, but nevertheless I think its true.

On the other hand, I actually found the big cubes matching with the design, not only fo rthe obvious material reasons, but for its volumetric shape and size, it could "Link" the building to the regular urban shape of bilbao.

My thoughs. Nice pics btw...kinda dark day, eh?

more pics from the happy cubes... :P I just thinks they are very "square" and coloured compared to the guggenheim, I think the museun by itself can stand ok... (sorry I don't know how to explain it in english well..:o )
BTW, It was darker in the afternoon, being in a boat and raining... umbrellas did not help too much