6 international architecture firms have been shortlisted for the extension and renovation of the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum in Spain. Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos, Rafael Moneo, Foster + Partners and Luis Mari Uriarte Arkitektura Studio, BIG with AZAB and Proskene, Snøhetta and Foraster Arquitectos, SANAA and Jimusho Ltd. and I. Aurrekoetxea & Bazkideak have been named on the shortlist for the first phase of the extension and renovation of the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum.

In accordance with the museum's strategic plan for 2019–2022, the main objective was set as the expansion and renovation of the existing museum plans enlarging the institution's programmes and actions in the middle and long term. 

According to the strategic plans, the Board of the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum Foundation launched calls for a 8,000-square-metre enlargement of the museum's operating space through the acquisition of an auxiliary building, along with the enlargement of its headquarters through an international architecture competition. The budget is planned for both actions as €22,110,000 and the timeframe for executing them is planned in 45 months.

The first building of the expansion plans will serve as a repository for works of art and as the home of the Archive, Library and ARTEDER Study Centre. The second building will have a significant enlargement of the exhibition, reception and visitor service facilities in its current building, and the education and dissemination services.

Based on this, the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum started a tender process, and lately the museum has selected the 6 top architectural firms for the extension and renovation of the museum for the first phase. The 6 firms were selected out of 57 teams submitted for a tender process. 

Plaza del Museo 2, Bilbao. Image courtesy of Bilbao Art District

The six finalist teams listed as below:

• Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos S.L.P.
• Rafael Moneo
• (Joint Venture) Foster + Partners Ltd. + LM Uriarte Arkitektura S.L.P.
• (Joint Venture) BIG, AZAB, Proskene
• (Joint Venture) Snøhetta + Foraster Arquitectos
• (Joint Venture) SANAA Jimusho Ltd. + I. Aurrekoetxea & Bazkideak

Image courtesy of Bilbao Fine Arts Museum

"Increasing the space is the biggest challenge in the Strategic Plan, and it will take shape in two projects. First, the plan proposes acquiring an auxiliary building (3,000 square meters) as a repository for works of art and as the home of the Archive, Library and ARTEDER Study Centre, quantified at €3,950,000," explained the Museum in its statement.

"The second is a significant enlargement of the exhibition, reception and visitor service facilities in its current building, and the education and dissemination services (5,000 square meters), quantified at €18,160,000."

The museum will now send the relevant invitations so that the finalist candidates can accept or reject them. The teams will have a period of 3 months to prepare their projects. This second phase for the submission of bids will be carried out anonymously and the teams will not be identified.  

Top image courtesy of Bilbao Fine Arts Museum

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