Metropol Parasol – A very Unique Out of this World Wooden Structure

Metropol Parasol by the German architect Jürgen Mayer. Metropol Parasol is a wooden building.
Photo by Rubendene, CC-SA-3.0

The structure consists of six parasols in the form of giant mushrooms (“Las setas” in Spanish), whose design is inspired partly by the ficus trees in the nearby Plaza de Cristo de Burgos. Metropol Parasol is organized in four levels. The underground level (Level 0) houses the Antiquarium, where Roman and Moorish remains discovered on site are displayed in a museum.

Level 1 (street level) is the Central Market. The roof of Level 1 is the surface of the open-air public plaza, shaded by the wooden parasols above and designed for public events. Levels 2 and 3 are the two stages of the panoramic terraces (including a restaurant), offering one of the best views of the city center.

The structure consists of six parasols in the form of giant mushrooms (“Las setas” in Spanish), whose design is inspired partly by the ficus trees in the nearby Plaza de Cristo de Burgos. Metropol Parasol is organized in four levels. The underground level (Level 0) houses the Antiquarium, where Roman and Moorish remains discovered on site are displayed in a museum. Level 1 (street level) is the Central Market.

Panorama view of Espacio parasol from the upper level. Photo by Rubendene, CC-SA-3.0

The roof of Level 1 is the surface of the open-air public plaza, shaded by the wooden parasols above and designed for public events. Levels 2 and 3 are the two stages of the panoramic terraces (including a restaurant), offering one of the best views of the city center.

Previously buildings were torn down on the land and it wasn’t until 1990 when the city decided to construct underground parking with space for a market on top. However, in the midst of construction, ruins dating to Roman and Andalusian eras were discovered, and construction was frozen after an expenditure of 14 million euros. In 2004 the city decided to attempt to develop the area again.

Construction

Construction began on June 26, 2005, with an estimated cost of 50 million euros and a projected completion date in June 2007. However, unknown to the public, the project soon faced difficulties. By May 2007 engineering firm Arup informed the municipal authorities that the structure was technically infeasible as designed.

Metropol Parasol completed and lit up at night. Photo by Anual, CC-SA-3.0

Much time was spent developing a feasible alternative plans to buttress the structure, which themselves proved impractical because of the added weight to the imported birch tree wood they imported from Finland.

A feasible design using glue as reinforcement was finally settled on only at the beginning of 2009. By some estimates, due to delays, the total cost of the structure approached 100 million euros. Its construction was finished in 2011.

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