Written By: Jack Robertson

Today, we explored much of the city of Bilbao and saw many impressive buildings and structures throughout the city.

One of the first buildings we saw was the Teatro Campos Elíseos, which is very close to our hotel. It was originally built many years ago, and you can see that in the detailed, older-style design on the front of the building.

As Bilbao became more modern, they kept the original building but added a modern glass extension on top of the theatre. It was really interesting to see how they combined both old and new styles in the renovation, making it something that could appeal to everyone in the city.

One of the next buildings we saw was a workspace for members of the Eusko Jaurlaritza–Gobierno Vasco (Basque Government). This building was fascinating to look at. It’s design seemed both cluttered and carefully planned at the same time. Through the windows, we could see some of the offices hanging over the sidewalk below, while others were set farther back.

Even though the building has a cool, modern look, I found it interesting how out of place it felt, since it’s completely surrounded by much older-style buildings. Because of this contrast, it’s possible that some people living in the city might not be happy with how it stands out from its surroundings.

Another highlight of today was seeing the Zubizuri Bridge, located next to the Guggenheim Museum. The bridge is really interesting, where its cable supports curve in a way that creates a slight swirling effect along the arc of the structure.

However, we also learned that the original design had some issues. The glass floor, while visually appealing, became slippery and unsafe, so it had to be covered with a dull carpet. There were also problems with access, where originally people had to go up and down two flights of stairs just to get on or off the bridge. A walkway extension was eventually added to fix this and make it easier for pedestrians, but only after a lot of public dissatisfaction.

Reflection

From seeing these structures, I think the most important lesson I learned is the importance of catering to user needs. The Teatro Campos Eliseos, for example, made sure in its renovations to respect both traditional and modern styles, creating a space that appeals to a wider audience. In contrast, the Basque Government building didn’t seem to consider its surroundings, and as a result, felt out of place among the older buildings nearby. This made me think about how, in my future career, when creating or updating products, I need to make sure my designs respect both the past and present in order to meet user needs and create more satisfying solutions.

Similarly, with the Zubizuri Bridge, while the structure is beautiful, several aspects of it failed because they didn’t fully consider how people would actually use it. A product that looks great but doesn’t function well for its users will likely fall short. This reiterates the lesson that if a product doesn’t meet user needs, it won’t be received well, no matter how innovative it might be.

That’s why it’s so important to design with the user in mind, and I hope to carry this mindset with me into every part of my future career. Taking these real-world examples into account has helped me see just how important catering to user needs is in the design process, and excites me to how I can incorporate that idea into my future creations.