Eguzki Alde (1918), the palace of the sunny side near Bilbao

Description of the building

The Eguzki Alde palace, in the Basque town of Getxo, is a building designed and built by the architect Leonardo Rucabado in 1918. The Eguzki Alde palace is the purest and most representative example of the architectural style known as "neo-montanesque" in the region.

The environment and its history:

The iron and steel industry and shipbuilding that developed in Bilbao and the municipalities along its estuary during the 19th century made the port of Bilbao the port of connection with large European cities for the transport of iron ore, coal, oil and its refined products. The iron and steel industry, shipbuilding and trade made Bilbao one of the richest cities in Spain.

The large amount of economic resources generated allowed - between 1887 and 1893 - the design, construction and financing by private initiative of a bridge - the Vizcaya Bridge: the first suspension bridge in Spain - to join the two banks of the estuary at the mouth of the River Nervión, before reaching the large port known as El Abra Exterior.

The existence of the bridge facilitated the formation of the Neguri neighbourhood as a residential area for Bilbao's industrial and commercial bourgeoisie, which was strongly influenced by the English culture and customs of the time.

The Neguri neighbourhood has a design inspired by English garden cities. At the beginning of the 20th century it was a residential holiday area for the wealthiest families who built and lived in immense mansions. Over time, it became a permanent residential neighbourhood, but retained the prestige and reputation for quality that it had a hundred years ago.

The palace of Eguzki Alde is located in the heart of the Neguri district on the seafront.

If Eguzki Alde means "the sunny side" in the local Basque language, Neguri - which comes from negu-uri, i.e. neguko hiri - means "winter town".

Built with solid stone walls and wooden beams, it stands out for its elegance and sturdy appearance. Its volumes are arranged gradually over six storeys, from its sturdy base on the ground floor to its tower, which rises above a hipped roof topped with elegant decorative stone pinnacles that are an extension of the columns that form the corners of the façades.

The cornices elegantly overhanging around the perimeter protect the balconies, terraces and windows, which are well distributed among the five dwellings.

With a rectangular floor plan of three by four openings, a distribution of light-filled rooms is achieved in each of the dwellings. This use of natural light is a worthy recognition of the suggestive name of the palace: "Eguzki Alde" or "Sunny Side".

Situated in a location chosen for its multiple advantages, this palace enjoys unbeatable views of the sea, the sandy beach of La Bola, the marina of Getxo and the bay of El Abra.

Complete reconstruction

There is no greater luxury than to be able to completely refurbish an early 20th century palace with a structure of solid stone and robust hardwoods in an enviable location.

Modern techniques and materials have allowed these residences to have a very functional contemporary design and minimal energy consumption, allowing maximum comfort for its residents.

Description of each flat

There are five homes in the building: two homes on the ground and first floors; one home on the second floor; one home on the third floor; and one home on the fourth floor.The latter two dwellings can be configured as a single dwelling, as explained below.

The building is located in the centre of a 2,000 m2 plot, which has several gardens, a 20 m long swimming pool and enough underground garages and storage rooms for the dwellings, with entrance and exit to the garage directly from the street.

Property comprising the third and fourth floors with a total built area of 523 m2 distributed over two floors plus a 15 m2 tower on , the highest floor of the building.

The property 3ºA+B, has 6 double bedrooms with their corresponding bathrooms made with the best materials, a toilet room and a laundry area on each floor.

On the third floor, a large living room of 37 m2 with fireplace and a large kitchen and dining room of 41 m2 with large windows and sea views are the main and most spectacular part of the house.

Its two large double bedrooms, with dressing room and bathrooms made with marble of unquestionable beauty, complete this lower floor. On the upper floor, four further double bedrooms with their corresponding bathrooms and the large living room with kitchenette are the ideal residence for the youngest members of the family.

The most spectacular attraction is undoubtedly the tower that occupies the highest part of the building. This 15 m2 space can be used as a study room, gymnasium, music room, etc. Its large, luminous windows on all four sides offer magnificent views of the sea and the mountains on the other side of the Nervión estuary, Mount Serantes and the Abra Exterior.

Bilbao is a city located in the Basque Country, Spain. It is known for its rich gastronomic culture and impressive art scene. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is one of the city's main attractions, and houses some of the most important masterpieces of contemporary art. It is an iconic building designed by Frank Gehry, which has become a symbol of the city's revitalisation. In addition, Bilbao has several Michelin-starred restaurants, such as the "Etxebarri" restaurant, which specialises in grill cuisine and the "Mugaritz" which is renowned for its creativity and culinary technique. Both have 3 Michelin stars.

In addition to the gastronomic culture, Bilbao offers a wide variety of activities for all ages. The historic city centre is an ideal place to walk around and enjoy Bilbao's traditional architecture. The markets of La Ribera and Ensanche are essential places to sample local produce and learn about the city's gastronomic culture. There are also several parks and gardens around Bilbao, where visitors can enjoy the outdoors and nature. In short, Bilbao is a city with a great tourist, cultural and gastronomic offer.

Plenty of outdoor activities, such as golf, surfing and paragliding can be played. The city and its surrounding areas have several high quality golf courses, such as the Bilbao Golf Club, which is in a beautiful location surrounded by nature. Surfing is very popular on the Basque coast and Bilbao has several surfing spots, such as Sopelana beach and Barinatxe beach. For paragliding enthusiasts, there is a paragliding school at the top of Mount Gaztelugatxe where you can enjoy incredible views of the city and the coast.