TAYKO BILBAO
Tayko Bilbao: a century of industrial architecture in the heart of the city
Bilbao is a city defined by its transformation. The estuary, industry and architecture are all part of an urban identity that can still be seen in many of its historic buildings. Among them is Tayko Bilbao, located at Ribera 13, right in the heart of the Old Town.
TAYKO BILBAO
Bilbao is a city defined by its transformation. The estuary, industry and architecture are all part of an urban identity that can still be seen in many of its historic buildings. Among them is Tayko Bilbao, located at Ribera 13, right in the heart of the Old Town.
The building, which celebrated its centenary in 2024, is one of the finest examples of early 20th-century industrial and residential architecture in Bilbao. Built in 1924 by the architect Adolfo Gil Lezama and commissioned by José María Erice, it was the fourth building in Spain to be constructed entirely of concrete, a particularly innovative feat for the time.
Situated beside the estuary, in one of the areas historically most closely linked to Bilbao’s commercial life, the building combined modern residential units with commercial premises. It featured amenities that were unusual at the time, such as a lift, central heating and hot running water, reflecting Bilbao’s expansion and modernisation during the industrial boom.
For decades, the ground-floor retail units were home to some of the city’s best-known businesses, from José María Erice’s hardware shop to the historic Almacenes Zubicaray, which are still fondly remembered by generations of Bilbao residents.
Today, the building retains some of its original character thanks to a restoration that respects its historic structural features and combines them with a contemporary interior design. Concrete, metal and brick interact with a modern design that preserves the building’s industrial character and its connection to the city’s history.
For decades, the ground-floor retail units were home to some of the city’s best-known businesses, from José María Erice’s hardware shop to the historic Almacenes Zubicaray, which are still fondly remembered by generations of Bilbao residents.
Today, the building retains some of its original character thanks to a restoration that respects its historic structural features and combines them with a contemporary interior design. Concrete, metal and brick interact with a modern design that preserves the building’s industrial character and its connection to the city’s history.
The name Tayko, inspired by the term “taikonaut”, is also a nod to this history and to the iconic astronaut who for years featured in the visual imagery of the building’s former warehouses.
More than just a hotel, Tayko Bilbao offers a way to experience the city’s architectural history from within, in one of the most distinctive buildings in Bilbao’s historic centre.
