VIDEO: Inhabitat Interviews Metropol Parasol Architect Juergen Mayer H.

Inhabitat: What’s been the response you’ve had so far?

Juergen Mayer: Since it opened people are really excited about it. There was some doubt before because it was such a different and new architectural language, but since it opened and became accessible, it’s been extremely busy. People like it — they hang out there at night, they go up — I think they have 1,700 people a day visiting the top right now, so it’s really becoming part of the city.

Inhabitat: Was there an element of drawing upon nature for inspiration in this design?

Juergen Mayer: We had some references from the city. One was some big trees on a neighboring plaza — we are doing the same type of thing in a built version. There are also references to the Seville Cathedral, which has this beautiful, undulating stone roof. The structure inside of the Cathedral was also inspiration for the form of the Metropol Parasol. We sometimes call our project an urban, democratic, open cathedral that is held together by the people and the life in the center of the city.

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5 Comments

architexture August 8, 2011 at 6:30 pm

Beautiful structure! It reminds me of a chair I saw at the Salone de mobile in 2002. http://mark-naden.com/?category=15#513
emily @ EcoSalon August 7, 2011 at 12:24 pm

I live in Seville, right down the street from “the mushroom” as it is popularly called, and one question I’ve always had is about the choice of wood. The summer heat is sweltering, as such even in the construction of houses very little wood is used. Rarely will you even see hardwood floors because of morphing and concerns about insulation in the summer heat. Instead, marble or tile is far more typical.

While the structure is amazing, I wonder if it’s better suited to the climate of Germany than Andalucia.
Wilko August 5, 2011 at 8:39 am

Dear Jeff, this is Wilko from J.MAYER H.
To your question: Yes the timber-construction is covered with sparyed on polyurethane for protection.
jeffbarrettdesign August 5, 2011 at 3:01 am

Now this I have to see. Jurgen we must have been channeling each other a few years back. Check our your sister project:

http://www.cca.edu/academics/architecture/gallery/9800

Cool thing is yours got built.
Nice work
Oh, I wonder what type of UV coating is on this? Polyurethane?

Cheers
Jeff
http://www.jeffbarrettdesign.com (Home Green)
Yuka Yoneda July 29, 2011 at 1:26 pm

I didn’t know you can walk on top of it. Incredible!