‘That building’ in Bilbao

I’d seen pictures of the building. I’d seen other buildings built by the guy. All I needed to do was see the building.

So I did. Off I went to Bilbao, home of Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim building.

I don’t know a lot about architecture, but the Guggenheim has always fascinated me. The fact that an over-the-top modern building could be plonked in the middle of a historical city like Bilbao, and single-handedly put the city on the world map. Without the building, I wouldn’t have gone to Bilbao. I’m glad I did.

Approaching the building, I was greeted by this.

Yep, you saw right. A massive, twelve metre high floral dog.

It was a fitting way to be introduced to the building and Frank Gehry’s quirkiness. After all, this is what the massive floral dog was guarding.

The building was strangely beautiful. All the curved steel, the glass and the water just worked together. Built in 1997, it is probably the most celebrated building of the last twenty or so years. And rightly so, I just couldn’t get enough of it.

And if the giant floral dog wasn’t enough, a similarly giant-like spider bid you farewell on the other side.

I went into the building to use the toilets, which were just like any other public toilets in Europe. So I forwent the museum itself. I sat by the river, admired the outside, and appreciated the beautiful modern building I’ve ever seen.