L:Theater de Stoep, R: Supercoop supermarket, Spijkenisse, photos: RM

Take an unattractive city. Through an appealing, or at least eye-catching building designed by a famous architect, it can be pulled out of the doldrums. The Bilbao effect is named after the city of Bilbao where the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Gehry accomplished this feat. It’s example was followed by many, think of EYE in Amsterdam North, but its initial success could never quite be equalled. Continue reading →