Zubizuri (White bridge), Bilbao

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You know, I love Bilbao for it, but some things require safety first. This sleek sexy white bridge is great in the summer time but in the winter, much dispute was raised since people were slipping on the glass floor. It is very difficult to maintain as well.

Nonetheless, down the river there is another very beautiful wooden bridge. Bilbao is a artists dream since so many practical everyday things were elevated to a artistic level.

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That this audacious bridge is a design of Santiago Calatrava cannot be denied. As most of his works, the main materials used are white concrete and white steel, hence the name. It spans the Nervion River in a delicate curvy equilibrium connecting the Campo Volantín Boulevard with the area of Uribitarte, where two sleek skyscrapers have recently been erected (Isozaki Atea) by Arata Isozaki on the ground of a former warehouse.

Like most of the works by the Swiss-based architect, this bridge is extremely controversial. The design is so repetitive and ubiquitous that it does not surprise any more (although this one dates back to 1997, when there were not so many around yet). Plus, the floor is made of glass panels, which in addition of being highly slippery when it rains, are very fragile and costly to replace. But no doubt the effect of walking on a semi-transparent surface is great.

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The Zubizuri bridge spans the river between the Guggenheim and the Ayuntamiento. It is a nice design and handy if you are walking over to get the furnicular railway up to Artxanda.

However, given that this design of bridge has even reached Salford (Manchester), I would not make a special trip to see it!

Incidentally, it can be lethal if it rains as the glass gets slippery!

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This stylish looking bridge is worth a walk over, but beware that it can be slippery when wet.

Open in 1997, it cetainly has it's critics, but I think it goes with the moderisation of Bilbao.

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Enjoyed our crossing of the river here, a very striking and photogenic bridge, even for my lack of talent!

This non tipycal bridge joins Campo Bolantin and Abandoibarra.
You can go walking if you are going to see the city hall. It´s between Guggenheim Museum and City Hall.

It's the newest bridge over the Nervion in Bilbao designed by Santiago Calatrava.
Such a strange wavy shape on this white bridge with glass pavement...