Campa de los Ingleses Park flows from the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum, unifying the Abandoibarra area of Bilbao and the Nervión River. The park’s defining lines mark undulating paths that pull up to create a series of curving terraces. These topographic waves mediate a 10m/33ft elevation difference across the park allowing for a café to be tucked under the earthform. The terraces, ramps, stairs and walls flow into one another to sculpt the park. The park integrates the Mazarredo, Deusto Bridge, and the Plaza Euskadi with the surrounding buildings and most importantly with the Nervión River into a seamless urban experience.
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- © Iwan Baan
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- © Iwan Baan
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- © Iwan Baan
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- © Iwan Baan
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- © Iwan Baan
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- © Balmori Associates
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- © Balmori Associates
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- © Iwan Baan
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- © Balmori Associates
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- © Balmori Associates
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- © Balmori Associates
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- © Balmori Associates
Rather than using turf or “Industrial Lawn”, a “Freedom Lawn” was planted by introducing various grass species, clover and wildflowers that fixes nitrogen and reduces the need for pesticides. The paving designed by Balmori contains an additive called GeoSilex® which absorbs CO2; the paving was developed with the University of Granada and made entirely from industrial waste. The local newspaper referred to the park as “a new lung for the city.”
Landscape Architecture: Balmori Associates
Location: Bilbao, Spain
Client: Sociedad Bilbao Ria 2000
Size: 25,000 m2 / 6.17 acres
Status: Completed 2012
LANTEC (Local Partner)
RTN Architects
Photo credit: Iwan Baan, Balmori Associates
