The contract for the underground metro system in Bilbao, Spain was awarded to architects Sir Norman Foster and partners in 1988 following an open competition as metro was decided to be the best method to improve congestion problems in the evolving and regenerating city. Geography > Europe > Spain > Basque Country > Biscay Cityscape of Bilbao, with the Guggenheim Museum on the bottom right Bilbao from satellite (NASA World Wind Landsat) Bilbao (Basque: Bilbo) is a city in northern Spain, the largest city in the Pais Vasco and the capital of the province of Vizcaya (Basque: Bizkaia). ... The Armadillo, Sir Norman Fosters Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow Norman Robert Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank OM Kt (born June 1, 1935) is a British architect. ...

Operational History

The first part of line one opened on 11 November 1995, with 23 stations between Casco Viejo and Plentzia. This is a list of the stations of the metro system of Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. ...

By July 5th 1997, the total number of stations reached 27 as Santutxu, Basarrate and Bolueta joined Gobela opened the previous year. The first line, operating to the north of the River Nervión was later to be added to with a second line, operating to the south. The highly original name of line two was conceived. Splitting from the original line at San Inazio, it currently runs to Sestao with construction further to the west currently underway. The original five stations (Gurutzeta-Cruces, Ansio, Barakaldo, Bagatza and Urbinaga) were opened on 13th April 2002. The furthest eastern point is now Etxebarri station, opened along with Sestao on 8th January 2005. The river Nervión runs through the city of Bilbao, Spain into the Bay of Biscay. ... This is a list of the stations of the metro system of Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. ...

Design

Bilbao is beginning to win a reputation internationally as a contemporary and avantgarde city, thanks to much of the original, exciting and different design work and construction currently underway there. Access to the metro is provided by 'fosteritos', glass structures affectionately named after the architect. These modern-looking tunnels stand attractive alongside the modern and innovative interior of the stations.

Large caverns of a 160m² cross section were dug for stations, creating large open spaces, as opposed to the traditional sets of linked tunnels. Materials such as steel and concrete have been used throughout.

Links

Metro Bilbao Stations This is a list of the stations of the metro system of Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. ...

Metro Bilbao website