Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

bilbao effect

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.93 in modern English

Syllables: bil-bao -ef-fect
IPA

24

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

4

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The potential of iconic architecture (starchitecture) to act as a catalyst for the economic revitalization of a city of region.

Example Sentences

"Abu Dhabi's leader talk of using the museum to ‘brand’ the city, of duplicating the ‘Bilbao Effect’."
"Does the Guggenheim actually encourage creativity in the city, as advertised, or is it a Disneylandish castle on the hill with a fancy name and an expensive entrance fee for tourists and the well-heeled? Is the Bilbao effect to spread culture, or just to spread money?"

Etymology

Named after the Spanish city of Bilbao, where the opening of the Guggenheim Museum in 1997 was part of a revitalization effort which transformed the city into a popular tourist destination. Often attributed to the English writer Jonathan Meades.

Inflected Forms

Bilbao effects (plural)

Questions

What does bilbao effect mean?: The potential of iconic architecture (starchitecture) to act as a catalyst for the economic revitalization of a city of region.
Where does bilbao effect come from?: Named after the Spanish city of Bilbao, where the opening of the Guggenheim Museum in 1997 was part of a revitalization effort which transformed the city into a popular tourist destination. Often attributed to the English writer Jonathan Meades.

How to pronounce bilbao effect

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