The Zubizuri (

Basque Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous co ...

for "''white bridge''"), also called the Campo Volantin Bridge or Puente del Campo Volantin, is a

tied arch A tied-arch bridge is an arch bridge in which the outward horizontal forces of the arch(es) caused by tension at the arch ends to a foundation are countered by equal tension of its own gravity plus any element of the total deck structure such grea ...

footbridge A footbridge (also a pedestrian bridge, pedestrian overpass, or pedestrian overcrossing) is a bridge designed solely for pedestrians.''Oxford English Dictionary'' While the primary meaning for a bridge is a structure which links "two points at a ...

across the Nervion River in

Bilbao ) , motto = , image_map = , mapsize = 275 px , map_caption = Interactive map outlining Bilbao , pushpin_map = Spain Basque Country#Spain#Europe , pushpin_map_caption ...

, Spain. Designed by architect

Santiago Calatrava Santiago Calatrava Valls (born 28 July 1951) is a Spanish architect, structural engineer, sculptor and painter, particularly known for his bridges supported by single leaning pylons, and his railway stations, stadiums, and museums, whose sculp ...

, the bridge links the ''Campo Volantin'' right bank and ''Uribitarte'' left bank of the river.

Description

Opened in 1997, the bridge's unusual design consists of a curved walkway which is supported by steel suspension cables from an overhead arch. The structure of the bridge is painted white and the bridge deck consists of translucent glass bricks. Access ramps and stairways are located on both banks. The Zubizuri offers pedestrians a convenient route from hotels to the nearby Bilbao Guggenheim Museum.

Criticism

Published criticism

Since its opening, it has been subjected to praise as a symbol of the new Bilbao and as a draw for tourism. Architectural professor Alexander Tzonis wrote:

''"The intelligence, vitality, and originality of the bridge's curved configuration challenged the ordinariness and slow decline of the urban setting, bringing a message of hope and an invitation to imagine better conditions."''

However, other professionals have been more equivocal, bridge engineer Matthew Wells saying:Wells, Matthew, ''30 Bridges'', Laurence King Publishing, 2002,

''"Regrettably, the balance of light steel superstructure on the cantilevered abutment ends is strained, like a sculptural toy, and the bridge touches the ground uncomfortably."''

History since opening

The bridge has also been accused of impracticality: it is locally infamous for the glass bricks set into its floor, which can become slippery in the wet climate of the city.
Entre losetas y y arquitectos 'estrellas'
', El Correo, 24 February 2007 The original design connects the bridge on the left bank to the Uribitarte dock and not to the higher street Alameda Mazarredo. Local authorities temporarily installed a further

scaffolding Scaffolding, also called scaffold or staging, is a temporary structure used to support a work crew and materials to aid in the construction, maintenance and repair of buildings, bridges and all other man-made structures. Scaffolds are widely use ...

footway joining the bridge and Mazarredo street, but removed it under protests from Calatrava. Zubi Zuri

In 2006, the local authorities authorized

Arata Isozaki Arata Isozaki (磯崎新, ''Isozaki Arata''; born 23 July 1931) is a Japanese architect, urban designer, and theorist from Ōita. He was awarded the RIBA Gold Medal in 1986 and the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2019. Biography Isozaki was ...

to erect a new footway from the bridge to the construction site of the Isozaki Atea towers. Calatrava responded in 2007 by suing Bilbao for the moral rights to the integrity of his creation (a part of the

intellectual property Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, cop ...

under the Spanish copyright law), where a metal bar had been cut.
Calatrava lleva a los tribunales su guerra con Isozaki por los puentes de Uribitarte
', El Correo, 22 February 2007.
«Tenían que habernos encargado la prolongación de la pasarela»
', El Correo, 23 February 2007. The mayor of Bilbao,

Iñaki Azkuna Iñaki Azkuna Urreta (14 February 1943 – 20 March 2014) was a Spanish politician of the Basque Nationalist Party. He was mayor of the city of Bilbao, Biscay in the Basque Country, from 1999 until his death. In 2012, Azkuna won the World Mayo ...

, with the support of his fellow councilors claimed that the rights of the owners (Bilbao) took precedence over the architect's rights. He also noted the slips and falls of bridge users, and the cost of replacing broken glass tiles (6,000 euros a year according to opposition speaker Antonio Basagoiti, 250,000 euros in ten years according to a municipal report
La reparación de las losetas ha costado 250.000 euros
', El Correo, 28 November 2007). Jurists and local architects have supported the position of the mayor, holding that the modifications do not affect Calatrava's rights.

', El Correo, 24 February 2007. In November 2007, a judge agreed that there was damage to the creator's moral rights but favored the local council and allowed Isozaki's connection to remain.

', El Correo, 27 November 2007. Calatrava announced his intention to appeal against the decision. In March 2009, a higher court granted 30,000 euros to Calatrava as damages.Bilbao, condenado a indemnizar a Calatrava por 'alterar su obra'
El País, 11 March 2009.

References

External links

Zubizuri on bridge-info.org

Google maps image of the footbridge
showing the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum in the upper left corner. The bridge is on the lower right.
Great buildings

Alexander Tzonis Authorised website
{{coord, 43, 15, 59.06, N, 2, 55, 40.50, W, region:ES_type:landmark, display=title Santiago Calatrava structures Bridges in Biscay Bridges completed in 1997 Pedestrian bridges in Spain Buildings and structures in Bilbao Tourist attractions in Bilbao Neo-futurism architecture Estuary of Bilbao