12/02/2024
Irala: Bilbao's Notting Hill
Strolling through Irala, you’ll be greeted by vibrant rows of brightly painted houses reminiscent of English architecture, a charming scene that has earned this neighbourhood the nickname of Bilbao’s Notting Hill.
We at BYPILLOW love the history of this place as it has all the components of a great story: triumph over adversity, dreams coming true, heartwarming moments, and thousands of tons of good bread.
It all begins in the hands of a 16-year-old young man from Bilbao who starts out kneading bread in a bakery. His name is Juan José Irala and at that time, few could imagine he would become one of the most celebrated and influential businessmen of his time, famed for the growth of an entire neighbourhood in Bilbao. Looking back on his success, it has been said that Irala was born with a loaf of bread under his arm.
And what a loaf of bread it must have been because, at the beginning of the 20th century, the businessman launched Harino Panadera, a modern flour factory equipped with the latest technologies, which came to produce 70,000 kilos of flour a day! We don’t have a PhD in maths, but we’re certain that would be enough for quite a few loaves of bread and maybe a couple of pintxos too.
But in all seriousness, the fact is that Irala became one of the most influential businessmen of his time, improving not only the local economy but also the quality of life of his workers. Around the flour factory, a neighbourhood was born, consisting of fifteen streets lined with beautiful houses, schools, social centres, a church, a bank, a corner store, and a tram line that connected it with the city centre. A fun fact: in less than a decade the neighbourhood of Irala grew from 200 inhabitants to 3000, growing so much that it became known by the residents of Bilbao as “the village within the city”.
The resemblance between Irala and Notting Hill is no coincidence as the design of the neighbourhood was inspired by the garden cities of England, an urban model conceived to provide healthy spaces within industrialised cities. In addition to the British influence, the houses have the additional charm of some Basque architectural touches—a truly curious combination.
They say that when the factory was still in operation the neighbourhood smelled of freshly baked bread and although the factory closed years ago, this aroma still lingers in its collective memory, and part of this historical legacy stands. One of the buildings of what was considered to be the best bread factory in Spain has survived and is a great example of the industrial architecture of the time. Built from reinforced concrete and with white brick facades, it was declared a Monumental Complex in 2005, retaining much of the original milling machinery. But what captures the essence of Irala and is a must-visit are the little houses on the streets of Kirikiño, Zuberoa, and Baiona, which retain the authenticity and charm of yesteryear.
If you want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Bilbao’s Notting Hill, we invite you to explore Irala from the comfort of any of our BYPILLOW hotels in Bilbao. BYPILLOW Irala is located just a minute away from the most beautiful houses in the area.
If you want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Bilbao’s Notting Hill, we invite you to explore Irala from the comfort of any of our BYPILLOW hotels in Bilbao. BYPILLOW Irala is located just a minute away from the most beautiful houses in the area.