From Sketch to Vault: Guggenheim Bilbao’s Journey to Immortalize Its Designs

What is the Guggenheim Bilbao?

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a world-renowned museum of modern and contemporary art. The museum was inaugurated on 18 October 1997 by King Juan Carlos I of Spain. Its iconic design by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry has made it one of the most visited museums in Spain. The museum, which is one of the largest in Spain, is additionally one of several museums belonging to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and features permanent and visiting exhibits of works by Spanish and international artists.

The Architecture of the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao building represents a magnificent example of the most ground-breaking 20th-century architecture. With 24 000 square meters, of which 9 000 square meters are dedicated to exhibition space, the museum represents an architectural landmark of audacious configuration and innovating design, providing a seductive backdrop for the art exhibited in it. Altogether, Gehry’s design creates a spectacular sculpture-like structure, perfectly integrated within Bilbao’s urban pattern and its surrounding area.

What is stored in our archive?

The museum’s documents and drawings are essential to its history and preservation. These materials include architectural plans, construction drawings, and photographs. They also include the original designs for the museum’s exhibits and artworks.

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao’s documents and drawings are stored on piqlFilm, a unique archival medium developed by Piql, a innovative Norwegian data preservation, protection and archival company. piqlFilm is made from photosensitive 35mm analog film that has been treated with a special silver halide coating. This coating makes the film resistant to heat, cold, moisture, light, and other electromagnetic radiation.

Summary of the data stored:

Architectural designs and drawings
Related documents

Why is it stored in AWA?

To guarantee the enduring preservation of the materials, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao has joined forces with the Arctic World Archive (AWA) and stored them there. Found in the Arctic Circle, AWA is an underground data vault safeguarded against natural disasters, climate change, and impervious to cyber attacks.

The 35mm analog piqlFilm is stored in the special piqlBox, which are specially designed to protect the film from damage. The piqlBoxes are made from a strong, fire-resistant material and they are sealed to keep out moisture and air.

The documents and drawings of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao are housed in a designated section within the AWA vault. This area is, by the true nature of the mountain, naturally kept at a constant low temperature and air moisture. Furthermore, the vault is safeguarded by numerous protective measures, – polars bears included. 🐻‍❄️

By storing its documents and drawings in AWA, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao ensures that these materials will be preserved for future generations. AWA’s secure location and advanced yet “ancient” technology offer the highest level of protection for the museum’s most valuable assets.

Additional benefits of storing data in the AWA:

Sustainability: AWA is a carbon neutral data storage facility. This means there are no greenhouse gas emissions, which is important for companies and organisations with a commitment to sustainability.
Cost-effectiveness: AWA is an extremely cost effective way of storing data for the long term. The piqlFilm technology is very durable and does not rely on electricity or migration to survive.
Scalability: Storage can be scaled to meet the needs of businesses and organisations of all sizes. The piqlFilm can accommodate a wide range of data formats and can be expanded as required.

If you are looking for the ultimate super secure data backup, and the most sustainable way to store your data for the long term, then the Arctic World Archive is for you. The AWA’s unique technology and secure location provide the highest level of protection for your data.