Present day
01-10-12
Modern Arquitecture
The museum’s modern building selected by the Documomo Foundation
New honour for the Museum’s architecture.
On 1 October and coinciding with World Architecture Day, a plaque has been installed on the Museum’s building that singles out the architectural importance of its modern building. It has been awarded by the Fundación Docomomo (Foundation for the Documentation and Preservation of the Modern Movement).
The governing board of the Vizcaya Delegation of the Official College of Architects of the Basque Country-Navarre selected the building that houses the Museo del Bellas Artes de Bilbao (specifically, its first extension, designed by Álvaro Líbano and Ricardo Beascoa in 1963) from among those listed in the register of industrial buildings, housing and installations of the Fundación Docomomo Ibérico. The Fundación is part of the international organisation founded in 1990 to list, promote and protect the architectural heritage of the Modern Movement.
Two more plaques marking buildings of architectural distinction have been installed in Bilbao, on the La Equitativa building and the School of Engineers. Both have merited the same honour.
This is not the first time that the Museum’s architecture has aroused the interest of professionals in the field. In 1962 the old, Neo-classical style building was declared a Historical Monument. In 2003 the remodelling and enlargement of the Museo de Bellas Artes, led by the architect Luis María Uriarte, was awarded the ex aequo prize of the Official College of Architects of the Basque Country-Navarre in the remodelling category.