"Prestigious architecture and urban design have been fundamental in the configuration of Bilbao and its international projection". This was stated at the University of Navarra by the architect and mayor of Bilbao during the years 2014-15, Ibon Areso.

Under the degree scroll "Strategic evolution of Bilbao, the metamorphosis of the industrial metropolis", Areso made a tour of the transformation of the city from its origins in 1300 as a medieval town to the present day. In the lecture that he gave at the School of ArchitectureIn his speech, he highlighted the need and capacity of the Biscayan capital to adapt to the circumstances, and to transform and regenerate itself, from the urban point of view, which has earned it numerous awards worldwide.  

According to Areso, after an era of industrial and mercantile prosperity, the crisis that began in 75 revealed structural problems, which resulted in a major social and urban impact, which were the germ of "a profound process of urban transformation, which was able to generate new opportunities employment for its citizens". The crisis of the industrial model , "made it necessary to initiate the transition to the post-industrial city, establishing the guidelines of our future urban development through an ambitious renovation that should cover the entire area of the lower Nervión in order to configure us as a modern metropolis".

The four main axes of this physical and socioeconomic renewal were external accessibility and the internal mobility of the metropolis, environmental and urban regeneration, investment in human resources and technological transformation, and cultural centrality. 

Second urban revolution

Areso wanted to highlight in all this rethinking, the prominence acquired by the estuary: "This requalification had to have one of its most significant milestones in the transformation and recovery of the estuary, which was shown as an element of enormous potential, representing the main axis of the new city, as well as its most emblematic element".

In addition to reflecting on the why and how of this revitalization process, the former mayor of the city also highlighted challenges for the future, "after the process undertaken to move from the industrial city to the post-industrial city, that is, from the ugly and polluted city to the friendly city; now a second urban revolution of Bilbao is necessary, which will allow the impulse of the new Economics".

The architect pointed out the lines of a second strategic transformation plan, which should have as goal "to move from the friendly city to the smart city, since in a globalized and competitive Economics it is being demonstrated that cities are more prosperous when they are more creative, which forces us to continue reinventing ourselves to avoid the risk of entering a phase of stagnation".