Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao
Guggenheim Museum at a Glance
Guggenheim Museum has proven to be the most significant structure of Wright's late career. As a monument to modernism, the distinctive architecture of the space, together with its spiral ramp traveling to a domed skylight, today still excites visitors and offers a fine forum for the showcase of contemporary art.
Located in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain, Guggenheim Museum is a modern and contemporary art museum. Former King Juan Carlos l inaugurated it on October 18, 1997. This complex, which comprises interconnected structures, was designed by architect Frank Gehry, from Los Angeles. Learn about it by reading my list of must-know facts before you visit.
12 Must-Know Guggenheim Museum Facts
1. The entire museum encompasses a total area of 24,000 square meters, of which 11,000 square meters are used for exhibition purposes.
2. It was initially opened as a collaborative venture between the Basque regional administration and the Guggenheim Foundation.
3. The building is constructed of limestone, titanium, and glass. It actually has no flat surfaces.
4. The museum gets a huge number of visitors each day.
5. The museum hosts both temporary and permanent displays of works by international and Spanish artists.
6. This structure represents an outstanding sample of the most cutting-edge 20th-century architecture.
7. The museum itself is one of architect Frank Gehry's most celebrated works.
8. Also, it was originally part of an urban renewal program that the Basque regional government created.
9. The total expenditure of constructing this massive structure was $89 million American dollars.
10. It's the most famous of the three museums which the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation runs permanently.
11. While the museum peaks at around 53 meters in height, the highest walkway is 26 meters from the ground, rendering the top half of wall space inaccessible. If this part of the museum were eliminated, there would still be enough wall space to showcase all the artwork!
12. Although the exterior is chaotic, the view of the walkways from the atrium harmonize with Frank Wright's Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. This similarity is seemingly the single design feature uniting the two vastly different museums.
7 Top Tips for Saving Money When Visiting Spain
