Located in the La Encarnación Square, at the heart of Seville, Spain, stands the largest wooden structure in the world. The structure is the creation of German architect Jürgen Mayer-Hermann, and is called the Metropol Parasol.
Resembling a grove of prefabricated trees, the Metropol Parasol stands 26 meters high and has dimensions measuring 150 by 70 meters. It is more popularly known as Las Setas de la Encarnación, which means Incarnación’s Mushrooms since the structure consists of six parasols that have the appearance of giant mushrooms. The inspiration for the design was drawn from the vaults of the Cathedral of Seville and the ficus trees in the nearby Plaza de Cristo de Burgos.
The Metropol Parasol was constructed with the aim to revitalize the dead spot that the Plaza de la Encarnación had become. The area had become a parking lot and was completely non-existent as a tourist spot among the many other attractions in the city. It contains a market, shops, and a podium for concerts and events, along with an Antiquarium in the basement and an open-air public plaza on the roof. Panoramic terraces provide an amazing view of the city centre and one of them even features a restaurant. The Antiquarium acts as a museum, where Roman and Moorish remains discovered on-site are displayed. Wooden parasols provide shade on the public plaza that is designated for public events.
Images of this amazing feat of architecture are shown below.
Open-air public plaze
Panoramic Terraces
Top view of the Metropol Parasol
The structure is 26 meters high
The structure has a very natural shape
Metropol Parasol brings life to the once dead square
The Metropol Parasol is a tourist attraction of its own
An amazing example of modern architecture
