Expressionism first emerged in 1905 when a group of architects decided to become painters and started their group the Die Bruke. Then later in the 20th century the Expressionist Architecture movement started and was in parallel and followed the same themes as the expressionist visual and performing arts that dominated Europe at the time.
To further explore expressionist architecture and architects, I decided to look at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao which I found interesting upon visiting 3 years ago. The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao was built between October 1993 and October 1997 and the site that was chosen was a former abandoned wharf with industrial use. The building stood as a a symbol for “recovery of the banks of the river for the city, redeveloping them for culture and leisure.”
The building was designed by Frank Gehry who developed a personal style throughout his career of combined and deconstructing architectural forms. Some say Gehry draws inspiration from drapery folds that are featured on the pieces of the 17th century figurative sculpture or baroque architecture because Gehry’s work features elements that bend and ripple.
Surrounded by the popular avenues and squares, the building is located in a modern/newly developed area of the city, leaving the area’s industrial history. This masterpiece combines bold swirling forms and captivating materiality that responds to the function of the museum and to the area as an urbanized industrial area. The building has a finish of thin titanium sheets that provide a rough/urban but still organic effect. Furthermore the materials color change due to its reflectivity depending on the light and weather conditions of the moment. The New York Times calls it “the most important building yet completed” by Gehry. His personal style of of combining different architectural forms and seconds tucking them combined with computer-aided design enabled this structure to become the sculptural and expressionistic building that enlightens the city with the art and knowledge it provides.
