Zaha Hadid Architects completed the conceptual master plan for Zorrozaurre, a 60 hectare peninsula cradled in a long curve of the Nervión river in the former port area of Bilbao, Spain. The Zorrozaurre’s Master Plan of Zaha Hadid in Bilbao tries to turn a very deteriorated industrial area into a new residential, amusement and business space. The Master Plan defines three different districts (South, Centre and North) which are differentiates between them by the uses and the edification density:

- North District (District 1): This will be the residential area of the neighborhood, giving space for more than 5.000 VPP that are expected to build. Along the riverside of the “Deusto” canal, the buildings will be mixed with a lot of hotels, restaurants and shopping areas

A sequence of new bridges, some of them destinated for vehicles and anther only for pedestrian uses, will permit a free-flowing communication with San Ignacio and Zorrotza.

However, in the north side of Zorrozaurre, around 31.000 m2 will be also destinated for driving the business investigation and knowledge, by the development of a new Technological park.

- Central District (District 2): It will be used like a place for the arts, sports and environmental sciences, connected by a “green bridge” to the Sarriko Park and the university

- South District (District 3): Situated close to the “Ensanche” and Abandoibarra, and conveniently situated in the middle of the academic centers, of medicine, of business and engineering, the office buildings and some of residential uses will take the main prominence. The courtyards and public crossings will create a complex environment where the new buildings will share the space with the old ones, being everything connected with the city centre of Bilbao, through the new tram stretch.

It will be the space where all the annunciated projects for the different private companies (BBK, Iberdrola).

The shape of the buildings, streets, parks…; makes easier to distribute all the spaces along the surrounding topography and the broad curve of the Nervion to subtly influence Bilbao’s well-defined urban grid. The resulting building alignment generates a finely textured ground sweeping the length of the site, contracting to conform to the small scale of existing fabric and expanding in response to more open spaces. In this way the plan tries to accommodate the historic buildings and the new ones, and linking both to a great public waterfront.

As well, in the Master Plan, the integration of the water in the urban environment had acquire an special relevance, so in the north and central district is planned some local quays for small boats and wood walking areas close to the water.

The pedestrian roads and one net of “bidegorris” will give also shape to a new Zorrozaurre that will be one of the greatest challenges of Euskadi en the last years.