Azkuna Zentroa

{{Infobox building

| name = Azkuna Zentroa

| native_name = {{lang|es|Alhóndiga Municipal de Bilbao}}

| image = Bilbao Alhondiga-tomasfano-01.jpg

| caption = Inside Azkuna Zentroa.

| building_type = Multi-purpose venue

| architectural_style = Modernism

| cost = 71 million euros

| location = Bilbao, Basque Country

| address = 4, Arriquibar Square

| location_country = Spain

| coordinates = {{coord|43|15|35|N|2|56|13|W}}

| start_date = 1905

| completion_date = 1909

| renovation_date = 2001-2010

| floor_area = {{convert|43000|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}

| architect = Ricardo Bastida

| other_designers = Philippe Starck, Thibaut Mathieu

| website = {{URL|www.azkunazentroa.eus}}

}}

Azkuna Zentroa (Basque for Azkuna Centre), previously known as Alhóndiga Bilbao ({{IPA|es|aˈlondiɣa βilˈβao}}), is a multi-purpose venue located in the city of Bilbao, Spain. It was designed by French designer Philippe Starck in collaboration with Thibaut Mathieuhttp://info.elcorreo.com/bilbao/inauguracion-alhondiga/entrevistas/el-ho-es-una-expresion-de-sorpresa-que-nos-llega-a-todos/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018032725/http://info.elcorreo.com/bilbao/inauguracion-alhondiga/entrevistas/el-ho-es-una-expresion-de-sorpresa-que-nos-llega-a-todos/ |date=2014-10-18 }} Retrieved 2011-01-15. and was opened to the public in stages between 18 May and 24 October 2010. The venue, labeled as a "Culture and Leisure Centre", consist of a cinema multiplex, a fitness centre, a library, showrooms, an auditorium, shops, and a restaurant.{{cite web | url = http://www.alhondigabilbao.com/la-alhondiga-centro-de-ocio-y-cultura | title = The Alhóndiga, Culture | publisher = Alhóndiga Bilbao | accessdate = 2010-10-20 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101023190451/http://www.alhondigabilbao.com/la-alhondiga-centro-de-ocio-y-cultura | archive-date = 2010-10-23 | url-status = dead }}{{cite web | url = http://info.elcorreo.com/bilbao/inauguracion-alhondiga/que-es/la-alhondiga-vuelve-a-la-vida/ | title = La nueva Alhóndiga | publisher = elcorreo.com | accessdate = 2010-10-20| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100923193620/http://info.elcorreo.com/bilbao/inauguracion-alhondiga/que-es/la-alhondiga-vuelve-a-la-vida/| archivedate= 23 September 2010 | url-status= live}} In March 2015 its name was officially changed to Azkuna Zentroa in tribute to the late mayor of Bilbao Iñaki Azkuna.{{cite news|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/local/pais-vasco/20150317/54429038807/alhondiga-bilbao-cambia-nombra-azkuna-zentroa.html|title=AlhóndigaBilbao cambia su nombre a Azkuna Zentroa|newspaper=La Vanguardia|date=17 March 2015|language=Spanish}}

Originally a wine market (alhóndiga in Spanish), it was designed by Basque architect Ricardo Bastida and inaugurated in 1909. However, in the 1970s, a new warehouse was planned and the Alhóndiga was abandoned. Several projects were suggested, ranging from public housing, a museum of modern art, or even demolishing the entire building, but all were scrapped. Finally, in 1994 it was decided to renovate it and build a sports and culture centre.{{cite web|url=http://www.deia.com/especiales/alhondiga/proyectos-al-cubo |title=Proyectos al cubo |publisher=deia.com |date=2010-05-08 |accessdate=2010-10-20 |author=José Basurto |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716232906/http://www.deia.com/especiales/alhondiga/proyectos-al-cubo |archivedate=2011-07-16 }} The Basque Government decided to declare the building "Public Property of Cultural Interest" in 1999.{{cite web|url=http://www.euskadi.net/cgi-bin_k54/ver_c?CMD=VERDOC&BASE=B03A&DOCN=000019003&CONF=/config/k54/bopv_c.cnf |title=Decreto 397/1998 |publisher=Basque Government |date=1999-01-20 |accessdate=2010-10-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622055825/http://www.euskadi.net/cgi-bin_k54/ver_c?CMD=VERDOC&BASE=B03A&DOCN=000019003&CONF=%2Fconfig%2Fk54%2Fbopv_c.cnf |archivedate=2011-06-22 }}