The story
Welcome to Azkuna Zentroa, a place where Bilbao’s industrial past and its creative future collide in a spectacular display of architecture. As you stand here in the vast, open atrium, take a moment to look around. You are inside what was once the city’s wine warehouse, the Alhóndiga, designed back in 1909 by Ricardo Bastida.
For decades, these thick brick walls held millions of liters of wine and oil, fueled by the sweat of the city’s laborers. But today, the heavy scent of spirits has been replaced by the hum of culture, sport, and conversation. In the early 2000s, the world-renowned designer Philippe Starck was commissioned to breathe new life into this shell.
He decided to keep the historic exterior intact while completely gutting the inside to create three distinct buildings that seem to float within the original walls. Now, let your eyes drop to the most striking feature of this space: the columns. There are forty-three of them, and if you look closely, you will notice that no two are alike.
These pillars, crafted under the artistic direction of Italian set designer Lorenzo Baraldi, are meant to represent the infinite diversity of cultures, religions, and eras of human history. Walk among them. Feel the textures.
You’ll find columns made of marble, bronze, wood, and terracotta. Some are sleek and modern, while others look like they were plucked from an ancient Greek temple or a Chinese palace. They aren't just structural supports; they are a forest of human history holding up the weight of modern Bilbao.
As you wander further in, look straight up. You might see something rather unexpected—the shimmering blue shapes of people swimming. That is the glass-bottomed rooftop pool.
It is one of the most surreal sights in the city, watching the distorted shadows of swimmers glide across the ceiling as light filters through the water. It turns the act of exercise into a public art installation. This center was renamed in 2015 to honor Iñaki Azkuna, the beloved mayor who spearheaded Bilbao’s radical transformation from a gritty industrial port to a global capital of art and design.
He wanted this to be the city’s living room, a place where everyone is welcome. Whether you are here to browse the Mediateka library, catch an independent film, or simply escape the Basque rain, you are part of the building's new story. Before you leave, I suggest taking the elevator to the top floor.
The terrace offers a unique perspective on the surrounding Ensanche district, but the real magic is right here on the ground floor, where the old brick of the twentieth century supports the wild imagination of the twenty-first. Enjoy your walk through this cathedral of culture.