Metropol Parasol

The Plaza de la Encarnacion, Sevilla as envisaged by the architect

Project Details

• Project name: Metropol Parasol
• Location: Plaza de la Encarnacion, Sevilla, Spain
• Client: Ayuntamiento de Sevilla and SACYR
• Status: International Competition, 1st Prize- 2004, Realization - 2007
• Principal Architect: J. Mayer H.
• Competition Team: Sebastian Finckh, Wilko Hoffmann, Klaus Kuppers, Julia Neitzel, Dominik Schwarzer, Ingmar Schmidt, Georg Schmidthals, Jan-Christoph Stockebrand, Daria Trovato.
• Realization Team: Ana Alonso de la Varga, Paul Angelier, Marcus Blum, Thorsten Blatter, Sebastian Finckh, Wilko Hoffmann, Hans Schneider, Jan-Christoph Stockebrand
• Project Architect: Andre Santer, Marta Ramirez Iglesias.
• Management Consultant: Dirk Blomeyer
• Technical Consultant: ARUP GmbH (Competition 2nd phase)
• Multidisciplinary Engineers for Realization: ARUP GmbH
• Technical Support for Plants Coqui-Malachowska-Coqui with Thomas Waldau (Competition 2nd phase)

View of the panorama terrace on top of the parasols

The Building

The design scheme with its large mushroom like structures presents an archeological site, a farmers market, an elevated plaza, multiple bars and restaurants underneath and inside the parasols, as well as a panorama terrace on the very top of these parasols. Envisaged as light metal structures, the parasols grow out of the archeological excavation site into super scaled landmarks. The columns become prominent points of access to the museum below as well as to the plaza and panorama deck above, defining a unique relationship between the past and the present of the city.

Aerial view of the Metropol Parasol within its dense urban context

Metropol Parasol - Layout plan at plaza level [opens in a popup window - 98KB image]

The Context

Metropol Parasol has emerged as the new iconic project for Sevilla - a dynamic cultural hub in Spain. The design explores the potential of the Plaza de la Encarnacion to become the new contemporary urban center within the dense fabric of the medieval inner city, allowing for a great variety of activities within the realms of memory, leisure and commerce. The scheme's mixed-use character initiates a dynamic development for culture and commerce in the heart of Sevilla. A highly developed infrastructure further activates the square, making it an attractive destination for tourists and locals alike.

Credits

• Text and Photographs: Courtesy, the architect
• Compiled and edited by Varun M. Ajani