Zorrotzaurre Island

Zorrotzaurre is a long, narrow stretch of land in the Nervión estuary, to the northwest of central Bilbao, and it has been turned from a peninsula into an island by the digging of the Deusto Canal, a channel that cuts across its neck. For much of the twentieth century, it was an industrial and port area, with shipyards, warehouses, metal workshops and factories, and it formed part of the engine room of Bilbao's economy. As industry declined, many buildings were left empty, and the area became a symbol of the problems of a post-industrial city. Today it is one of the city's largest urban renewal projects.

The plan to transform the island was shaped in the early 2000s, with a master plan prepared by the architect Zaha Hadid and her office, which envisaged a new neighbourhood with housing, offices, parks, public spaces and cultural uses, laid out along the waterfront. The project has taken time, as many large projects do, and has been carried out in phases, with new streets and bridges, riverside promenades and housing blocks appearing gradually, alongside a number of older industrial buildings that have been kept and reused. The aim is to create a sustainable neighbourhood in which people can live, work and move about on foot and by bike, and where the water is part of daily life.

For visitors, the island offers a glimpse of a city in transformation. Pedestrian and cycle bridges link it to the districts on both sides of the canal and the estuary, and the riverside walks give views of the water, the cranes and the skyline of Bilbao. Some former industrial buildings have become studios, workshops and galleries, as artists and creative businesses have moved in, giving parts of the island a lively, informal character. You can see how old and new uses overlap in the same streets, with warehouses beside new apartment blocks.

The island lies within reach of the sights that make Bilbao famous. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the Abandoibarra Waterfront are within a short walk or bus ride upstream, and the Casco Viejo, the Artxanda Funicular and the Zubizuri Bridge can be reached by a longer walk or by metro. A walk down the estuary from the centre, through Abandoibarra and out to Zorrotzaurre, shows the whole story of the city's change, from heavy industry to culture and services.

The area suits those interested in architecture, urban design and the contemporary face of Bilbao. Because the development is still in progress, some parts are building sites, so expect changes from year to year. It is free and open, and best explored on foot or by bicycle.