Type of project:
Urban renovation
Start of construction: May 2005
Principal author: Jürgen Mayer H., architect,
J. Mayer H., Berlin, Germany, José de la Peña
and Carlos Merino, civil engineers, ARUP, Madrid, Spain
Comment of the Holcim Awards 2005 Jury for Europe
With a high degree of competence, the project demonstrates
an innovative layering of varied cultural and commercial
programs that serves to revitalize a historical town
square.
Directly confronting the loss of public space, the
work convincingly integrates urban, architectural, and
landscape design to create a sustainable response to
the contemporary challenges facing the region.
The work also manifests an ethically conscious position
in that it promotes a reinforced sense of communal identity
for a diverse range of social groups, providing them
an original perspective on the city and offering a place
for dialogue and exchange.
The project presents a credible economic catalyst for
the local market that is simultaneously ecologically
sensitive to the context.
Skillfully handled is the creation of a microclimate
that adaptively reacts to the intense climatic conditions
of the region.
The hybrid combination of commerce and tourism presents
a convincing and feasible model for cross-financing
the required investments to implement such a project.
This project deserves special merit for achieving the
highest of architectural standards and creating a work
that promises to have beneficial and long-term impact
on reactivating collective recognition of the city and
its culture.
Click here to download the Project summary - Holcim
Awards Bronze 2005 - Europe - "Metropol Parasol",
Seville, Spain (PDF, 93KB)
 
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