Metropol Parasol: aerial view of the old town ©Fernando Alda

The construction process of Metropol Parasol, which is soon coming to a close, was documented by the photographer Fernando Alda from the very start. The removal of auxiliary installations have revealed the building in its entirety though not all levels are accessible yet. Metropol Parasol is a wooden structure with a concrete core situated in Encarnación Square in Seville (Spain). It is approximately 150m long, 70m wide and 26m high. It is the implementation of the winning project of an international competition organized by the city of Seville in 2004, won by the German architect Jürgen Mayer.

The works, presently on completion, started on 26th of June 2005 and allowed for a complete, unique and complex redefinition of this public space. The structure consists of six parasols joined together forming a huge mushroom like cluster that seems to be inspired by either the vaults of the Sevillian Cathedral or great moreton bay fig trees that grow in the nearby Cristo de Burgos Square. Totally it consists of 5 levels. The highest level serves as a magnificent terrace with two panoramic passageways “Sky Walks” forming a loop, running across almost the entire roof seated on a reticular wooden structure. Inside the main parasol, 22m above the ground floor, will house a restaurant. Underneath the parasols there is a wide elevated shaded square, already called Big Square, designed to host various kinds of events. On the street level one can find the Market of Encarnación, shops, restaurants and redesigned public spaces. The basement hosts the Anticuarium museum for studying archaeological remains found and preserved thanks to the construction of the Metropol Parasol.

For the record and for better spatial understanding of the entire structure, Fernando Alda flew over it and took pictures revealing the urban context of this exciting experiment and milestone in contemporary urban design.

Metropol Parasol: aerial view © Fernando Alda

Metropol Parasol: aerial view of the Cathedral ©Fernando Alda