Metropol Parasol in Spain

Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación

Metropol Parasol in Spain

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    Project update June 2011 – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    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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    Project update June 2011 – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    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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    Project update June 2011 – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    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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    Project update June 2011 – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    Eager queues of Sevillanos and tourists ascending by elevator to enjoy stunning views of the city from a new perspective.

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    Project update June 2011 – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    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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    Project update June 2011 – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    Since completion of Metropol Parasol, the Plaza de la Encarnación has been re-energized with adjacent shops reporting record sales.

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    Project update June 2011 – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    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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    Project update June 2011 – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    Directly confronting the loss of public space, the design to integrate urban, architectural, and landscape design to create a sustainable response to the contemporary challenges facing the region 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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    Project update June 2011 – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    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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    DSC0263.jpg

    Project update 2011 - Metropol Parasol - Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain: 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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    Project update June 2011 – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    Architect Jürgen Mayer H (pictured, far left) and his team from J Mayer H Architekten in Berlin.

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    Holcim Awards ceremony for Europe 2005 – Geneva, Switzerland

    Third prize (Holcim Award Bronze) (l-r): Justo Gonzalez Mormeneo; Gonzalo de Benito Secades (Spanish Ambassador to Switzerland); Pedro José Garcia de Barrio; Juan Antonio March Pujol (Spanish Ambassador to the UN); Jürgen Mayer H.; Carlos Merino Agueros

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    Project entry 2005 Europe – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    Rendering of the Metropol Parasol.

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    Project entry 2005 Europe – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    Directly confronting the loss of public space, the design to integrate urban, architectural, and landscape design (inset) to create a sustainable response to the contemporary challenges facing the region was completed in April 2011.

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    Project entry 2005 Europe – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    Urban context.

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    Project entry 2005 Europe – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    Plan elevated plaza.

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    Project entry 2005 Europe – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    Plan skycafe.

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    Project entry 2005 Europe – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    Section and elevations.

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    Project entry 2005 Europe – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    Panorama terrace.

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    Project entry 2005 - Metropol Parasol - Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain: Market, museum and plaza

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    Project entry 2005 Europe – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

    Archaeology.

  • Awards Bronze 2005–2006 Europe

Rising like a canopy of light and shade, Metropol Parasol transforms the heart of Seville into a vibrant gathering place. Its organic form bridges the past and future, breathing new life into a historic urban square.

By Jürgen Mayer H. - J. MAYER H. Architekten, Berlin, Germany and

Completed in 2011 by Jürgen Mayer H. and collaborators, the project layers cultural and commercial spaces within an innovative timber structure. It addresses the erosion of public space by seamlessly integrating urban, architectural, and landscape design, offering a sustainable model for contemporary city renewal.

Metropol Parasol in Spain

Project authors

Project Summary

Revitalising Seville’s Heart with Iconic Urban Design

Metropol Parasol is a bold new landmark for Seville, redefining the Plaza de la Encarnación as a contemporary urban hub. Set within the medieval core of the city, it creates a vibrant space for memory, leisure, and commerce, supported by a highly developed infrastructure that draws both tourists and locals.

Project update June 2011 – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

Directly confronting the loss of public space, the design to integrate urban, architectural, and landscape design to create a sustainable response to the contemporary challenges facing the region 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.

The design features dramatic mushroom-like timber structures that rise from an archaeological site, hosting a farmers’ market, museum, elevated plaza, restaurants, and a panoramic terrace. The parasols forge a strong connection between Seville’s historic layers and its modern aspirations, sparking cultural and commercial renewal in the heart of the city.

At the forefront of sustainable construction, Metropol Parasol combines architectural innovation, efficient building techniques, and environmental responsibility. Its integration of advanced logistics with traditional craftsmanship positions the Plaza de la Encarnación as a dynamic centre of urban life—revitalising neighbouring areas and reinforcing Seville’s global reputation as a city that honours its past while shaping the urban spaces of the future.

Project Authors

  • Main Author

    Jürgen Mayer H

    Founding Partner, J MAYER H und Partner, Architekten

    Germany

  • Joerg Th Coqui

    Consultant

    Germany

  • Jose Maria De la Pena Coronado

    Arup

    Spain

Team J Mayer H

Jürgen Mayer H

Paul Anguiliers, Marcus Blum, Sebastian Flinckh, Wilko Hoffmann, Klaus Küppers, Julia Neitzel, Andre Santer, Hans Schneider, Ingmar Schmidt, George Schmidthals, Dominik Schwarzer, Jan Stockebrand, Marta Ramírez Iglesias, Daria Trovato

Technical Consultants

Arup Madrid/Berlin, Coqui Malachowska-Coqui with Th. Waldau

Jury Appraisal

With a high degree of competence, the project demonstrates an innovative layering of varied cultural and commercial programs that serves to revitalize a historical town square. Directly confronting the loss of public space, the work convincingly integrates urban, architectural, and landscape design to create a sustainable response to the contemporary challenges facing the region. The work also manifests an ethically conscious position in that it promotes a reinforced sense of communal identity for a diverse range of social groups, providing them an original perspective on the city and offering a place for dialogue and exchange.

EU05_00079_bearb_08.jpg

Project entry 2005 - Metropol Parasol - Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain: Market, museum and plaza

The project presents a credible economic catalyst for the local market that is simultaneously ecologically sensitive to the context. Skillfully handled is the creation of a microclimate that adaptively reacts to the intense climatic conditions of the region. The hybrid combination of commerce and tourism presents a convincing and feasible model for cross-financing the required investments to implement such a project. This project deserves special merit for achieving the highest of architectural standards and creating a work that promises to have beneficial and long-term impact on reactivating collective recognition of the city and its culture.

Project Updates

June 20, 2011 | Project Update | Seville, Spain

Official completion of Metropol Parasol

Project update June 2011 – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

A striking new landmark in the heart of Seville, Metropol Parasol redefines the Plaza de la Encarnación as a dynamic space for culture, commerce, and community. Designed by J. MAYER H., the project layers archaeological heritage, public gathering spaces, and sustainable architecture to revitalise a historic square within the city's medieval core. Combining bold design with environmental sensitivity, Metropol Parasol sets a new benchmark for urban regeneration in the 21st century.

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September 16, 2005 | Holcim Foundation Awards | Geneva, Switzerland

Bronze Award: Revitalising Seville’s Market Square with Metropol Parasol

The Holcim Foundation Awards Bronze for Europe went to architect Jürgen Mayer H. from Berlin and engineer Carlos Merino from Madrid for Metropol Parasol. Their design revitalises a neglected market square in Seville, creating a striking civic monument. Praised by the jury for its aesthetic strength and sustainable approach, the project’s giant mushroom-shaped parasols provide much-needed shade while reactivating public life—and position the site as a potential tourist destination of global appeal.

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Statements on Sustainability

  • Integration of historic site, commercial program and cultural representational spaces. Programmatic flexibility by highly specific unique architectural form. Prefabrication for lean construction on site and cost efficiency. Climatic sensitive materials (energy embodied). Combination of natural materials, conventional construction and smart materials (wood structure, polyurethan coating, recycled plastics and recycled cement). Natural climate through material and shading with low air conditioning input. Sensitive efficient evaluation of fire coding in relationship to materials and structure (saving materials => saving natural resources). Intelligent use of logistics in planning and construction.

  • From the very beginning the public was involved (symposiums, internet-forum) => process of identification. Local effect = activation development in the neighbouring areas; attraction and meeting place for entire city / surroundings. Plaza becomes a new unique space of urban communication (bus terminal, event spaces, panorama platform). Prototype for urban space in the 21st century.

  • Responsible use and management of natural resources (e.g. timber from sustainable forests). Use of growing material, local materials, recycled and recyclable materials. Long life cycle of construction due to long lasting low maintenance components. Operation and maintenance: self-cleaning skin with polyurethan coating as long-lasting weather protection and solution liquid-free. Low impact construction process (prefabrication, minimal dust, noise etc.). Shading imitating the traditional Seville way (tree form). Keep existing trees in the square. Natural lighting (openings in Plaza floors). Careful use of materials to provide an efficient thermal inertia. AHU: free cooling, variable speed fans and pumps => match demand and production, use of efficient chillers.

  • Green areas for low building service equipment. Public space as space for marketing. Branding effect brings more tourism and economy to Seville. Development by construction company, free construction for city, management by concessionaire (PPP). Creates employment in the neighbourhood. Traditional retail vs mall. Integration of public transport for economic reactivation.

  • Design excellence through international competition. Integration of computer technology in design and production. Design as site-specific for identification and uniqueness (city branding). Architectural design as desirable place of cultural, political and commercial events. Use of existing urban land and local tree species for landscaping.

Related information

Related Information

Location

pin Seville, Spain

Seville, Spain

News

Project update June 2011 – Metropol Parasol: Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación, Seville, Spain

Project Update

Official completion of Metropol Parasol

Seville, Spain

Holcim Foundation Awards

Prizes Awarded for Sustainable Construction Projects in Europe

Geneva, Switzerland

Videos

Holcim Foundation Awards

Jürgen Mayer H, project author of Metropol Parasol, Seville, Spain on the Holcim Awards.

Holcim Foundation Awards

Jürgen Mayer H, project author of Metropol Parasol, Seville, Spain on the Holcim Awards.