Metropol Parasol, Seville

The structure consists of six parasol-like, mushroom-shaped structures, which are connected in places to form a sunshade.

The structure was inspired by the columns of Seville Cathedral and by the sycamore fig trees in the nearby Plaza del Cristo de Burgos. Beneath the Metropol Parasol, Seville’s landmark, there are shops, a market, bars, restaurants and an archaeological museum, the Antiquarium, which houses remains from the Roman and Moorish periods.
Furthermore, the structure, with its elevated plaza, provides the opportunity to host public events in the open air.

On the roof are walkways that serve as a viewing platform, offering unobstructed views of the city. The construction used 3,800 m³ of glued laminated timber (Kerto^®) and 700 tonnes of steel for approximately 70,000 components. What made this timber construction project unique was the use of bonded threaded rods. The large-format components (up to 4 m x 16 m) were pressure-treated in the factory, calibrated and sanded, bonded, machined by robots and packaged.

The Metropol Parasol is regarded as one of the best-known examples of modern timber architecture and innovative engineered timber construction. The complex free-form structure made of laminated veneer timber combines sophisticated structural engineering with digital manufacturing and ranks among the most striking timber construction projects in Europe.

Impressions