Cultural complex metropol parasol. Metropol Parasol in Seville Metropol Parasol in Seville

On the streets of Seville, examples of almost all architectural styles are presented. So, modern design was embodied in the Metropol Parasol art object, whose name can be translated as “metropol umbrella”. According to many experts in the field of architecture, this is the largest structure in the world made of wood. Although, in fact, concrete elements were also used in the construction, which, by the way, gives rise to many discussions - the overspending of public funds spent on the beautification of the adjacent territory of the Plaza de la Encarnación is condemned.

Until 1973, this place was occupied by the market. In the 1970s, it was demolished, after which the square was empty for a long time, until a decision was made to equip underground parking under it, and reorganize the space for trade on the surface. However, soon after the start of construction, ruins from the Middle Ages and even the era of the Roman Empire were discovered, and work was stopped. After 15 years, the Seville authorities decided to return to the issue of improving the Plaza de la Encarnacion and announced a competition for architectural projects.

The victory was won by the Berlin bureau Arup, headed by the architect Jürgen Mayer. His idea was to erect a large building that would become an object of contemporary art and a cultural center, and could also accommodate the old market that existed here in order to attract the attention of tourists from all over the world. By the way, for this project, completed in 2011, Jürgen Mayer received several prestigious awards in the field of architecture.

Due to the unusual shape of the Metropol Parasol, it is often referred to as the "Seville Mushrooms". Indeed, the structure is similar to the structure of an umbrella or with several large mushrooms. The smooth curves of the vaults, resting on massive and wide round columns, are made of birch and represent a frame with square niches. They seem to expose the internal structure of the building. In general, Metropol Parasol looks very futuristic and original.

The four floors of the building serve different functions. The basement tier houses an exhibition of archeology, its exposition presents the very ruins found under the square and related to the periods of Roman and Arab rule in Seville. The first floor is dedicated to trade - now it is the main market of the city, where you can find the freshest farm products. One level above there is an open-air space that serves as a venue for various events. Finally, the two upper tiers share a restaurant and viewing platforms, which offer a beautiful view of the central districts of Seville. From here, the contrast between the ultra-modern construction of the Metropol Parasol and the historical buildings of one of the oldest cities in Spain is best seen.

The 28-meter-high object covers an area of ​​150 by 75 meters and claims to be the largest wooden structure in the world. Its occurrence, location, delays and cost overruns in construction have generated a lot of controversy in society.

Description

The design consists of six umbrellas in the form of giant mushrooms (Spanish. Las Setas), the design of which the architect was inspired by the vaults of the Seville Cathedral (as Mayer said - he wanted to create a "cathedral without walls", which should be "democratic"), as well as ficus trees near Plaza de Cristo de Burgos. Metropol Parasol has four floors. The Antiquarium is located on the underground floor (ground floor). (Spanish) Russian (Spanish) Antiquarium), which houses a museum with Roman and Moorish remains discovered during construction.

On the ground floor (outer floor) is the central market. The roof surface of the ground floor is an open-air public space, shaded by wooden umbrellas, specially designed for various events. The second and third floors are two levels of panoramic terraces (including a restaurant), with some of the best views of the city center. The material of the umbrellas is curly LVL panels of the Kerto-Q brand manufactured by Finnforest (now Metsä Wood (English) Russian ) in the amount of 3400 pieces fastened together by 3000 load-bearing connecting nodes .. The dimensions of the panels reach up to 16.5 meters in length, and the width varies from 68 to 311 millimeters. The panels are arranged orthogonally forming a grid with holes one and a half meters by one and a half meters. The panels themselves are produced at the factory in Aichach, . The wooden part of the structure, for protection from the environment, is covered with a waterproof varnish of two-component polyurethane.

Story

Since the 19th century, there has been a market on this square, located in a separate market building. In 1948, in accordance with the plans for the reconstruction of the city, the building was partially demolished. However, the market itself remained until 1973, when the rest of the dilapidated building was finally demolished. The land remained dormant until 1990, when the city decided to build an underground car park with space for a market on the surface. However, in the middle of the construction, ruins from Roman and Andalusian times were discovered, and the construction was frozen, having spent 14 million euros by then. In 2004, the city made an attempt to rebuild the site and announced an international competition to complete the construction.

Construction

Work on the plan for the redevelopment of the square began in 2004, when Jurgen Mayer from Berlin won the competition along with engineers from the Berlin office. design office Arup (English) Russian . The contractor was the construction company Sacyr Vallehermoso (Spanish) Russian from Madrid (now Sacyr (Spanish) Russian ).

Construction began on 26 June 2005 with an estimated cost of €50 million and a project completion date of June 2007. However, the project, unknown to anyone in the community, soon ran into difficulties. By May 2007 informed City officials that the design design was technically unfeasible, stating that a number of design assumptions had not been pre-tested and that technical limitations of certain materials were being violated. The wood used is birch, because of its appropriate quality, it was imported from Finland. A lot of time was spent developing a suitable alternative plan for strengthening the structure, which in turn turned out to be impractical due to the increase in weight. Finally, a suitable project using adhesive to reinforce the structure was only approved at the beginning of 2009. According to some estimates, due to delays, the total cost of construction reached 100 million euros.

The undoubted futuristic masterpiece of the Spanish Seville, which attracts an increasing number of visitors, is the Metropol Parasol, or, as it is also called, the Seville Mushrooms, a wood-and-concrete structure.

The largest building of such a plan in the world, when visited in person, strikes the imagination of tourists. Metropol Parasol is located in the city center on the Square of the Incarnation, not far from others. This is one of the most original buildings in the range of modern architecture in Spain.

History of the Metropol Parasol in Seville

It is symbolic that it was the Square of the Incarnation (Plaza de la Encarnacion) that the Seville authorities decided to undergo reconstruction in the late 90s of the last century. Digging a foundation pit for a future underground parking has turned into an archaeological excavation of an ancient Roman ruined village with elements of ancient mosaics. And for the preservation of the artifact, as well as for the possibility of further visits to the object by tourists, it was announced architectural ideas competition on the international level. Its prerequisites included:

• the reliability of the building;
• its versatility;
• the symbolism of the connection of times;
• aesthetics of integration into the face of Seville.

The Metropol Parasol project, presented by the German architect Jürgen Hermann Mayer, was selected from 65 competitive entries. Six bizarre wooden "mushrooms" were approved for execution. Construction began on June 26, 2005 and was scheduled for completion in the summer of 2007. But the work did not go according to plan due to technical and material problems that arose during the construction process.

The construction of the futuristic building Metropol Parasol lasted for 6 years and was completed only by the beginning of 2011, while the cost of work increased by 3 times compared to the original estimate. The final price of the construction, according to some reports, reached 100 million euros, which caused additional public outrage.

In addition, the inhabitants of Seville did not appreciate the conceptual appeal of the Metropol Parasol design at all. It seemed that a huge alien structure would burst into the classical urban architecture and destroy the usual harmony. But as soon as the Umbrellas rose on the Place of the Incarnation, everyone understood the grandiose design of the building, which has become one of the main modern tourist sites in Spain. In January 2013 Metropol Parasol entered the top 5 finalists of the Contemporary Architecture Award awarded by the European Union every two years.

What to see in Metropol Parasol

Metropol Parasol consists of six huge umbrellas that rise above the square at a height of 26 meters. The upper parts of each umbrella are intertwined to form a monolithic roof. The length and width of the imposing building is 150 and 70 meters respectively, covering both the Plaza de l'Incarnation and the Plaza Mayor. Due to the design features, the inhabitants of Seville began to call it Las Setas, which means "mushrooms" in Spanish. That is why in 2013 it was decided to rename the building. "Mushrooms" or "Seville Mushrooms" became the official name of the attraction.

Many tourists, going to the Metropol Parasol in Seville, forget about the time. You can spend the whole day here and not notice that it is over. It's all about the fantastic construction, which occupies an area of ​​about 5000 m 2 . During citywide festivities, thousands of citizens and guests of Seville come here, exhibitions, thematic fairs, and entertainment events are held. Under the arches of the building there are restaurants and cozy cafes, many shops and a chic farmers' market.

On the territory of the underground floor museum of archeology Antiquarium, which includes important archaeological sites of Seville from the ancient Roman and Andalusian eras. Among the most notable items ancient rome It is worth noting the unique mosaics and paintings of the 1st-6th centuries. Of the objects of the Andalusian period of the XII-XIII centuries, the decoration of the Islamic house of the Almohads stands out. In addition, the museum keeps historical information about Seville from the medieval and modern period.

The height of the Metropol Parasol exceeds 26 meters, and you can take a high-speed elevator to the top of the "mushroom hats". From here you can see almost all city ​​panorama: ancient city blocks, the Guadalquivir river with all the bridges, and Cathedral, in the likeness of which the architect, in his words, created his futuristic creation Metropol Parasol. Walking along the winding walking paths at the top of the Mushrooms of Seville is an unforgettable experience.

Useful information on Metropol Parasol

Along with the unique architectural form, the cultural complex is also distinguished by such features as:

• all the "mushroom umbrellas" of the structure were assembled from eight thousand wooden panels, none of which repeats the other in design;

• fasteners were not the usual bolts and screws, but steel rods and a heat-resistant adhesive specially developed for the project;

• at the farmers' market, located on the second level, an abundance of seafood, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meat products at quite reasonable prices;

• nowhere else can you take such amazing photos as on the observation terrace of the Metropol Parasol;

• locals recommend touching the Hispalis mosaics - ancient city which has now become a museum. They say that a wish made will come true.

reference Information

The cost of visiting the Antiquarium Museum is 2 euros

The cost of visiting the observation point on the top of the Metropol Parasol is 3 euros.

How to get there:

• Bus: lines 27 and 32
• Metro: Plaza Nueva (line T1)

"Seville mushrooms" on the map:

"Seville mushrooms" on the video:

“Since it’s easy to combine a wide variety of styles in Seville, why not build THIS ?!”

This is exactly how the architect Jürgen Mayer should have argued when he proposed to install a kind of floating wafer made of glued laminated timber in the historical center of the city. It turned out pretentious and large-scale, so the Parasol Metropolis is an obligatory point on the map of tourist Seville.

Some compare its shape to a honeycomb, others speak of umbrellas, incarnation mushrooms, and the like. For most Mudéjar-weary tourists, it looks like an ornate wooden waffle hanging from five mushroom-like pillars. Or a children's designer like the one in the figure below. The budget, however, is cosmic - under 100 million euros.

In fairness, we note that this is better than it was before construction. Previously, there was a car park at Plaza de la Encarnacion 18, which only spoiled the surroundings of this place. A wooden mushroom with a height of 28 meters and an area for the entire object of more than 11 thousand square meters. m - why not?

Video about how the construction of the Metropol Parasol took place.

How it all works

At the excavation stage, the builders stumbled upon ancient Roman ruins, thanks to which a small Antiquarium Museum appeared at the zero level. For only €2 from 10:00 to 20:00, you can see its small exhibition, consisting mainly of the foundations of old houses, pots and other things. Here you can get one of the themed souvenirs.

The first floor is reserved for the market, the second floor is for a platform for mass events, the third floor has a small restaurant, but the main thing is that from here, for about €3, you can walk along the panoramic ramp of the fourth floor and take some gorgeous photos, for which it was worth visiting this object. Opening hours are flexible, but usually from 10:00 am to midnight.

3 reasons to visit this place

• For spectacular photos. Of interest is both the form of the structure itself and the view from its roof. Grab a wide-angle lens or fisheye - you can get a couple of good shots.
• This is a really cool market. Fresh seafood, meat products, fruits and vegetables on an area of ​​about 2200 sq. m. Plus good cafes and bars.
• Take a break from the heat. And at the same time, you can feel the ideas of local archaeologists in the Metropol Parasol dungeon. Yes, yes, in the very Antiquarium. Cheap, cheerful, but kind of like antiquity.

Location on the map of Seville

More information on the official website: setasdesevilla.com

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Seville is best known for its historical monuments from its heyday in the Middle Ages. However, the city also boasts a number of outstanding modern monuments, including the Alamillo Bridge and the magnificent Metropol Parasol.

Metropol Parasol is a grandiose wooden structure made in 2005 - 2011 in the center of Seville. The Metropol Parasol is located in the Plaza de la Encarnación, a large square in the city center that was used as a market until 1973. In the following decade, the area was abandoned and used for parking.

In the 1990s, the city council decided to renovate the dilapidated square by building an underground car park and a new market. However, during the first phase of construction, the remains of Roman houses were found in the ground, so the project stalled. Instead, the city council has now decided to create a . As a result, a competition was held in 2004 for a new design for the marketplace, with requirements that it accommodate both the , and the market. Of the 65 entrants, Berlin architect Urgen Mayer won with his modern project Metropol Parasol.

Construction of Metropol Parasol

Construction of the Parasol, a large wooden structure covering almost the entire area, began in 2005. It was originally planned to complete the project in 2007, but due to technical problems, construction was delayed. At some point, the construction engineers of the prestigious Ove Arup & Partners stated that the planned structure was not technically feasible.

The project stalled for several years: only the concrete base of the structure was visible, sticking out ugly in the middle of the square. But in the end, a solution was found, the design was redone, and the technical obstacles were finally removed. The Metropol Parasol was eventually opened on March 27, 2011. True, technical problems caused a significant increase in construction costs, and at the most difficult time for the Spanish economy, when, due to the global crisis, it was in deep recession.

Construction of the Metropol Parasol

Metropol Parasol is a large structure in the form of a canopy, 150 m long and 70 m wide, the height of which reaches about 26 meters. In order to keep the Roman ruins underground, a small number of large pillars were used for support, which act as a kind of highway, from which a "canopy" grows, like a tree crown. This creates enough shade, which is so necessary for the city in the summer heat. The architect of the project, Jürgen Mayer, was inspired by the magnificent vaults of the cathedral when creating the design.

Metropol Parasol is made of concrete, steel and polyurethane coated wood bonded with adhesive. The adhesive has been tested to withstand high temperatures, typical of the hot summer in Seville.

Antiquarium

At the bottom level is Antiquarium (archaeological museum), a public square - plaza, - and a farmers' market. Escalators in concrete columns take visitors up to the roof, from where they can walk to an observation platform that offers panoramic views of the city.

The radically modern design of Metropol Parasol contrasts strongly with the historic buildings around. The choice of wood as the main material was an attempt to soften this contrast. Despite doubts about the appropriateness of such a monument, for the first time in many centuries she became the owner of a new religious building that attracts tourists.