©AFP PHOTO/RAFA RIVAS

One of the most representative buildings in the centre of Bilbao re-emerges after a long process of transformation: la Alhóndiga, the wine warehouse designed by Ricardo Bastida in 1909, was inaugurated on Tuesday as an imposing new cultural centre by French designer Philippe Starck.
The Alhondiga Bilbao includes a library, swimming pool, exhibition hall, fitness centre, restaurants and movie theatres spread over 43,000 square metres (462,680 square feet) on the site of a converted wine warehouse.
It took eight years to build for a cost of 75 million euros (92.5 million dollars).
Bilbao mayor Inaki Azkuna said the city aimed to give the city a new "social and cultural motor that is unique in the world."
Earlier on Tuesday, Singapore awarded Biblao authorities a new urban excellence prize for transforming the largest city in Spain's Basque Country from an "obsolete and dilapidated" industrial town into a vibrant metropolis.
Named after Singapore's founding father, the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize is a biennial award presented for the first time this year and comprises 300,000 Singapore dollars (200,000 US), a gold medallion and certificate.
Bilbao City Hall beat 77 other nominees for the prize.

Published 19.05.2010