The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain looks like it defies gravity. This is the work of
Besides a surprising exterior, the Guggenheim also created another effect, economic prosperity. The building generated 500 million in profit within 3 years of its opening which more than offset the cost of construction. It’s success is one factor that helped Gehry reach international fame.
The outside was designed to reference a ship which hints to the area’s former vocation. It contains 19 galleries and about 36,000 square feet of exhibition space.
Gehry used 3D design software to digitize the design from his model. The software is a key component that allows him to create his wild designs and is similar to what computer animators use.
To date about 20 million people have visited the museum, with 60% traveling from overseas.
Discover more of Gehry’s unusual work here or find another crazy building here.
Check out MONA Museum of Old and New Art Hobart Tasmania. Also check out their “proposed” new/hotel/casino development – a cantilevered building reaching out over the Derwent River. Very speccy!
Hi, Dani, thanks for the recommendation! The MONA is indeed an interesting building, no doubt due to the maverick founder David Walsh’s influence. The new development project HOMO is intriguing too! I’m curious to see how it unfolds. It seems like many unique projects are first met with criticism and then eventually embraced.