 Realized as an innovative timber-construction with a polyurethane coating, the curved elements of the upper structure have created a landmark and modern architectural icon for the city of Seville.
Holcim Awards Bronze 2005 Europe
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Overview
The “Metropol Parasol” project was completed in April 2011. The redevelopment of the Plaza de la Encarnación is a new landmark and unique urban space within the dense fabric of the medieval inner city of Seville.
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Main author
Jürgen Mayer H, architect, J. Mayer H., Berlin, Germany, José de la Peña and Carlos Merino, civil engineers, Arup, Madrid, Spain |
Metropol Parasol hosts celebratory dinner at rooftop tapas bar
In June 2011, architect Jürgen Mayer H and his team from J Mayer H Architekten in Berlin celebrated the completion of Metropol Parasol at the first seated dinner to be served in the tapas bar at the top of the iconic structure. The dinner, by invitation of the main contractor, was held in the raw shell of what is to be a tapas bar.
Iconic success
Since completion of Metropol Parasol, the Plaza de la Encarnación has been re-energized with adjacent shops reporting record sales and eager queues of sevillanos and tourists ascending by elevator to enjoy stunning views of the city from a new perspective. Metropol Parasol has become the city’s new icon, with ceremonies and interviews traditionally shrouded in the town hall or city square now taking advantage of the city’s new landmark. A testament to the social and economic benefits in addition to new material technologies and contemporary architecture, the building is also enjoying widespread support after initially facing divided opinions.
Metropol Parasol has become the city’s new icon, with ceremonies and interviews traditionally shrouded in the town hall or city square now taking advantage of the city’s new landmark.
Official completion of Metropol Parasol
The project was completed in April 2011. The iconic structures house an archaeological museum below ground, farmers market in the center, and elevated plaza, bars, restaurants and a panorama terrace on top of the “parasols” on top.
The structures are one of the largest and most innovative bonded timer constructions with a polyurethane coating. Growing out of the archaeological excavation site into a contemporary landmark, the project has created a compelling relationship between the historical and contemporary city. “Metropol Parasol” has a mixed-use character that initiatives a dynamic development for culture and commerce in the heart of Seville.
 view latest image gallery (June 2011)
Metropol Parasol’s Market Hall officially opened
A celebration was held on December 19, 2010 to mark the partial completion of the Metropol Parasol project. Festivities began with the opening of the market hall.
The project has become a new icon for Seville and explores the potential of the Plaza de la Encarnación to become the new contemporary urban centre. Its role as a unique urban space within the dense fabric of the medieval inner city of Seville allows for a great variety of activities such as memory, leisure and commerce. A highly developed infrastructure helps to activate the square, making it an attractive destination for tourists and locals alike.
The Metropol Parasol scheme with its large structures offers 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 the parasols. Realized as an innovative timber-construction with a polyurethane coating, the parasols grow out of the archeological excavation site into a contemporary landmark. 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 historical and the contemporary city. Model of the project acquired by the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), New York
A 1:200 scale model of the Metropol Parasol project has been acquired Museum of Modern Art New York Fund for the Twenty-First Century.MOMA catalog
Directly confronting the loss of public space, the work convincingly integrates urban, architectural, and landscape design.
Project background
The design proposed a covered market on the main square of an old town which was previously squandered as a parking lot. The new roof acts as an umbrella shading the social activities below. The project responds to the emergency of large shopping centers at the periphery of the city by attempting to reinstitute the value of public space within the urban fabric.
Additionally, the structure is conceived as a landmark and combines a series of functions: a metro station, an archaeological site, a parking garage, a market hall, and on the roof – an iconic belvedere for tourists visiting the town. The project promotes the small city within a highly competitive tourist market to create identity through the power of architecture by means of programmed activities on the square both day and night.
Last updated: June 20, 2011
 Architect Jürgen Mayer H (pictured, far left) and his team from J Mayer H Architekten in Berlin celebrated the completion of Metropol Parasol at the first seated dinner to be served in the tapas bar at the top of the iconic structure.
Image gallery - Metropol Parasol, Seville, Spain – June, 2011
Selected project photos shown below can be downloaded immediately in high-resolution format. To download an image, click on the link below any picture. Images may be used for media and academic purposes and must include a photo credit: Photos: ©Holcim Foundation, images by www.nikkolrot.com
A further 150 photographs of the project are available (see folio PDF below), and may be requested in high-resolution format from info@holcimfoundation.org.
 Metropol Parasol – Image Folio – June 2011 (PDF, 5.5MB) |
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| The columns become prominent points of access to the museum below as well as to the plaza and panorama deck above. |
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| Realized as an innovative timber-construction with a polyurethane coating, the parasols grow out of the archeological excavation site into a contemporary landmark. |
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| Metropol Parasol achieves the highest of architectural standards and promises to have long-term impact on reactivating collective recognition of the city and its culture. |
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| Eager queues of Sevillanos and tourists ascending by elevator to enjoy stunning views of the city from a new perspective. |
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| The fin-like façade of the upper deck will house a tapas bar as well as a panorama terrace on the very top of the parasols. |
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| Since completion of Metropol Parasol, the Plaza de la Encarnación has been re-energized with adjacent shops reporting record sales. |
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| Metropol Parasol has become the city’s new icon, with ceremonies and interviews traditionally shrouded in the town hall or city square now taking advantage of the city’s new landmark.. |
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| The winner of the Holcim Awards Bronze 2005 for Europe directly confronts the loss of public space, and convincingly integrates urban, architectural, and landscape design. |
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| The project promotes the small city within a highly competitive tourist market to create identity through the power of architecture and programmed activities on the square both day and night. |
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| Metropol Parasol has a mixed-use character that initiatives a dynamic development for culture and commerce in the heart of Seville. |
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| Architect Jürgen Mayer H (pictured, far left) and his team from J Mayer H Architekten in Berlin. |
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| Jürgen Mayer H. is Founder and Principal of Berlin-based cross disciplinary architecture studio, J. MAYER H. |
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