Estación Abando – Bilbao (Competition)
Abando Station Bilbao masterplan transforms the heart of the city. The underground high-speed station frees land at Abando. The plan reconnects neighbourhoods long divided by the rail trench: Ensanche, Bilbao La Vieja, San Francisco and Zabala. It upgrades the main interchange while improving daily life around it. The project sets clear goals: a mixed-use district, inclusive public space, and fast, low-carbon mobility. It turns the station into a true urban gateway.
Three strands guide the design. Social cohesion delivers welcoming squares, community services and everyday street life. Territorial cohesion restores continuous streets and step-free crossings that stitch both sides of the city. Economic cohesion brings a balanced mix of housing, workspaces, local retail and cultural venues that complement the centre.
Landscape is the backbone. A green corridor draws the wooded slopes of Artxanda and Pagasarri into the city. Lawns, shade trees and biodiverse planting cool streets and absorb runoff. Permeable soils, urban canopy and climate-ready materials help the district adapt to hotter, wetter weather. Pocket parks and tree-lined transversal streets add comfort and wayfinding.
Abando Station Bilbao masterplan puts walking, cycling and public transport first. Active ground floors and hybrid programmes keep the area lively from morning to night. The district is prepared for events, markets and workshops that build community and local identity. The result is a vibrant, resilient and proudly Bilbaino place.
Abando Station Bilbao masterplan transforms the heart of the city. The underground high-speed station frees land at Abando. The plan reconnects neighbourhoods long divided by the rail trench: Ensanche, Bilbao La Vieja, San Francisco and Zabala. It upgrades the main interchange while improving daily life around it. The project sets clear goals: a mixed-use district, inclusive public space, and fast, low-carbon mobility. It turns the station into a true urban gateway.
Three strands guide the design. Social cohesion delivers welcoming squares, community services and everyday street life. Territorial cohesion restores continuous streets and step-free crossings that stitch both sides of the city. Economic cohesion brings a balanced mix of housing, workspaces, local retail and cultural venues that complement the centre.
Landscape is the backbone. A green corridor draws the wooded slopes of Artxanda and Pagasarri into the city. Lawns, shade trees and biodiverse planting cool streets and absorb runoff. Permeable soils, urban canopy and climate-ready materials help the district adapt to hotter, wetter weather. Pocket parks and tree-lined transversal streets add comfort and wayfinding.
Abando Station Bilbao masterplan puts walking, cycling and public transport first. Active ground floors and hybrid programmes keep the area lively from morning to night. The district is prepared for events, markets and workshops that build community and local identity. The result is a vibrant, resilient and proudly Bilbaino place.