The Race to Replace a Cracked Dam
Infrastructure 09 Aug 2023
In the 1990s, Bilbao was in freefall—until a daring plan put a futuristic museum at the heart of its revival. Designed by Frank Gehry and modelled using fighter jet software, the Guggenheim Bilbao defied convention with its swooping titanium curves—and somehow opened on time and on budget.
The impact was immediate. The museum put Bilbao on the map, sparked a global trend for cultural-led regeneration, and helped drag architecture into the digital age. Few projects since have matched its success, but none have changed cities—or construction—quite like it.
The public are invited to share their feedback on the design options for the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial, set to be constructed in London's St James' Park, by 19 May.
Designed by Snøhetta and featuring some dramatic curved concrete structures, the project is due to fully complete later in 2025.
NEOM’s Chief Operating Officer Giles Pendleton shared an image of recent construction progress on the water pipeline infrastructure for The Line.