the city of Bilbo has recently been transformed from a gritty steel town to a happening Cultural Center like no other Spanish City entire sectors of the industrial City's long depressed Port have been cleared away to allow for new construction this bridge is part of what's now a delightfully people-friendly Riverfront bil's old town is well worth a stroll you'll find tall buildings and narrow Lanes lined with th diving shops and Tois bars a modern light rail line conveniently laces the old town with points along the river to the site which spearheaded bil Bow's Urban Renaissance the gugenheim museum while its contemporary art collection is impressive it's the building designed by Frank Gary and opened in 1997 that's created a stir in the world of architecture and put bilb on The Traveler map Gary's groundbreaking design helps set a new standard for architecture using cuttingedge Technologies unusual materials and daring forms he created a piece of architectural sculpture that smoothly integrates with its environment with the bridges pedestrian prominade and art all complimenting the building it's an engaging [Music] Ensemble Gary was inspired by a variety of Visions for instance to him the building's multiple forms just like a loose crate of bottles guarding the main entrance is Jeff Coon's towering West Highland terrier made of 60,000 living plants which blossom in a carefully planned visual concert a joyful structure it takes viewers back to their childhood puppy as it's known to locals was meant to be temporary but the people of Bilbo fell in love with puppy so they bought it [Music] stepping inside you naturally flow to the Museum's Atrium which acts as the heart of the building pumping visitors in and out of various rooms on three levels the glass and Limestone panels overlap each other like fish scales each is unique designed by a computer joyful as the building is the art it holds is even more fun while the Museum's audio guides give meaning to the abstract art my hunch is that the artists are entirely happy for us to Simply wander interact and play with their [Music] Creations this is art that welcomes you in Bill Bow's Guggenheim Museum makes you smile