The Metropol Parasol Project is the new icon-project planned for Seville, which will provide the city with a new contemporary urban centre. As the sole urban centre within the thick fabric of Seville’s medieval town centre, it will provide a large variety of leisure and commercial activities.

The Project has been designed by the German Architect Jürgen Mayer, who understands the urgent need for new sensitivity when creating and experiencing architecture, and combines this with communication and new technologies. His most recent projects are mainly characterised by his research into digital media; he presents formal proposals in which the interior and exterior spaces are connected using geometric structures and organically inspired surfaces. His design will place Seville at the forefront of international architecture, with references to the Metropol Parasol in Berlin and in the MoMA in New York.

The Project has been designed by the German Architect Jürgen Mayer

The concept behind Jürgen Mayer’s idea was that the space could be used 24 hours a day and therefore, since it is being developed in Seville, it was essential to create shaded areas. The space is inspired by elements of Sevillian architecture, such as the church domes surrounding Plaza de Encarnación or the banana trees in Plaza de San Pedro. The project also incorporates aspects of the Andalusian landscape and olive groves in particular.

The new Plaza de Encarnación has been designed as a multipurpose space. It will include an archaeological museum, a market and the ruins that were discovered there. The new plaza will act as one of the main links in the public transport system and it will also have space for a sports and cultural centre. The elevated plaza will provide a public meeting place by day and at night, thanks to the appropriate technical installations, it will create an artificial sky, making it available for cultural activities. The space will be accessible to locals and tourists alike.

It will consist of six large parasols made from laminated wood, which will cover a surface area of 150 x 70 metres. Pedestrianised passageways (Sky Walks), on top of the parasols will allow visitors to enjoy the beautiful views over Seville’s historic centre. A restaurant called the Sky Café will also be incorporated into the parasol’s structure. It will be situated 22 metres above street level and will provide a unique attraction for visitors.

MP has been awarded the contract for all lifts and escalators within this large and innovative project. It will provide a total of 5 of its latest lifts, 3 of which will have a carrying capacity of 16 people and a speed of 1.6 m/s. Based on Gearless technology, these lifts will be machine rooms less lifts and will provide access to the Sky Walks and different leisure areas such as the restaurant and viewing point. Another 2 hydraulic goods lifts with carrying capacities of 1,500 and 3,000 kg respectively will be installed for the food market. In addition, the 2 escalators, with glass panel balustrade will have the capacity to transport 9,000 people per hour and will be equipped with an energy-saving system based on a frequency changer. Both escalators will give access to an elevated plaza above street level.

On Thursday 25 January Jürgen Mayer and some of his team, as well as the technical management team from Sacyr-Vallehermoso (a construction company responsible for carrying out the work) visited Seville.

They visited various factories belonging to the MP Group in the Andalusian capital, as well as several of Seville Metro’s stations for which MP has been awarded the contract to provide lifts and escalators and which are currently in the process of being installed. They were also able to witness the Technological Capacities in I&R and innovation in our Research Centres in la Cartuja.

The visit was concluded in MP’s Valentín de Madriaga-MP Foundation’s Headquarters, located within the old USA Pavilion, which was built for the 1929 World Exposition. Within this building, they held a technical meeting with the aim of designing the structural and decorative details of the lift cars. It was agreed that great care should be taken to ensure that the lifts complement the architecture of the new complex.

In order to close proceedings, following the meeting, dinner was served in the Foundation’s Headquarters.

Enrique Fuentes Ruiz
National Installation and Maintenance Manager