Dezeen · Creativity & design

Foster + Partners Adds Bridge-Like Gallery to Bilbao Fine Arts Museum

British studio Foster + Partners, in collaboration with local architect Luis María Uriarte, has completed a new elevated gallery for the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, named Agravitas. This 55-meter-long extension aims to enhance connectivity between the museum's existing structures.

The Agravitas extension is supported by V-shaped columns, straddling the original museum without direct contact with its fabric. This design seeks to bridge the past, present, and future, respecting the site's history while accommodating contemporary art and visitor needs.

Locally sourced steel was utilized for the construction, celebrating Bilbao's industrial heritage. The extension spans the existing museum and a former outdoor area, creating a new ground-floor hall with a glazed facade for sculptures.

The upper level features column-free gallery spaces with skylights that can be adjusted for natural light or complete darkness, catering to diverse exhibition requirements. The project also includes new office spaces and roof terraces offering city views.

The design incorporates overhanging roofs for solar shading and photovoltaic panels on the rooftop. The transformation also involved restoring the museum's original buildings and reopening its 1940s entrance.

Foster + Partners collaborated on the design with Spanish engineer Julio Martinez Calzón.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.