Mayor of Bilbao
country:Spain
website: www.bilbao.net/nuevobilbao/jsp/bilbao/pwepla00.jsp?idioma=I&color=rojo&padre=exa&subtema=10
Bio
The Mayor - Iñaki Azkuna Urreta
Date of birth
14 February 1943
Professional Background
• Degree in Medicine and Surgery (1966, Salamanca)
• Doctorate 'cum laude' (1971, Salamanca)
• "Assistant Etranger' at Broussais Hospital, University of Paris (1971-1972)
• Specialist in Radiology and Cardiology.
• Professor of Physical Medicine and Radiology at the University of the Basque Country (since 1973).
• Associate Doctor at the Hospital de Cruces since 1973. Subsequently, Head of Department and since 1986, Head of Radiology Unit.
• In 1979, Chair of the Board of Hospitals of the Bizkaia Medical Association.
• In 1981, Director of the Hospital de Cruces.
Political Posts
• In June 1982, Director of Hospitals of the Basque Government.
• From 1983-87, Director General of Osakidetza (Basque Health Service).
• From July 1989 to February 1991, Director-Secretary of the Presidency of the Basque Government.
• From February 1991 to May 1999, Health Minister of the Basque Government.
• From July 1999 to present, Mayor of Bilbao.
• President of Eurocities from 22 October 1999 to 27 October 2000.
• Currently President of the International Association Cities and Ports.
• Awarded the Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Health by the Minister for Health and Consumer Affairs on 31 January 2000.
Other positions
• Chair of the Board of Directors of the publishing company Iparraguirre S. A, publishers of DEIA (1988-89) and Muga.
Works and Publications
• Over 100 articles and communications in the speciality of Cardiovascular Radiology, in: Journal of the Spanish Society of Radiology; Journal of the Spanish Society of Cardiology; American Heart Journal; Archives des maladies du Coeur, etc.
• Author of the book Radioangiografía de las cardiopatías Congénitas (1988).
• Co-author of Tratado de Cardiología Pediátrica /Salvat, 1983).
Scientific Societies
• Spanish Society of Cardiology.
• French Society of Cardiology.
• Basque Association of Radiologists, etc.
• Basque Navarra Society of Cardiology.
Recreational Societies
• Member of ABAO, Bilbao Friends of the Opera Association.
• Member of the Bilbao Philharmonic.
• Friend of the Bilbao Museum of Fine Arts.
• Friend of the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum. Friend of the Arriaga Theatre.
Photo credits:
photo 1,2, 6 + profile ©Iñaki Azkuna
photo 3, 4 ©www.bilbao.net
photo 5 ©Alex Vandoros
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Most recent list of themes (View all)
on Architecture and Theory
on Architecture and Competent Authorities
on Architecture
on Architecture and Sustainability
on Educating Architecture
on Promoting Architecture
on Architecture and Events
on Guiding Architecture
on Architecture and Photography
on Architecture and Politics
on Architecture and Skyscrapers
on Architecture and Art
on Architecture and Travel
My point of view:
on Architecture and Travel
Interview Date: 07-12-2011
What do you think is the added value that architecture creates within a city?
Architecture is beauty and also formal evidence and immortality of a society´s history. Her valuation contributes to claim the pride and the value of that history, like a trampoline that projects us to the future without letting us forget our roots.
What is the importance of Architectural Tourism in your opinion? Does your city receive this kind of tourists? What modern architecture landmarks could place your city among the top destinations worldwide?
What is the importance of architectural, cultural and social events worldwide? What are the profits for a city holding such kind of major events?
At the end, can you please provide your personal proposal for 10 buildings (constructed and visitable) which you think as the most important worldwide that someone must visit anyway?
Unquestionably, the Guggenheim Museum of Frank Gehry,
the Underground of Norman Foster,
the Alhóndiga (wine warehouse) of Phillipe Starck,
the University Library of Deusto de Rafael Moneo
and the University Auditorium of Álvaro Siza.
As regards the rest, there are more than ten in the world that I wouldn't miss out on.
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