Undecided…
This past Sunday was the official opening of the Metropol Parasol – aka Las Setas (wild mushrooms). I stayed away from the celebrations but snapped this pic of it yesterday once everything was back to the usual work-a-day crowds. While it was going up, which took years, I hated the damn thing as much as everyone else seemed to and couldn’t imagine how such a monstrosity would “fit” into such a beautiful old city as Sevilla. Though it’s actually sitting in the middle of the Encarnación Plaza, which had its heart and soul cut out of it during a fit of sixties “rebuilding” which destroyed palaces and old houses and left a strip of hideous office buildings and storefronts. But I digress…
The Setas (how can you not call them that?) are on the original site of the Encarnación Market which was levelled and moved to a “temporary” site next door … about 35 years ago. I don’t know the whole story there other than the original site was pretty much a parking lot when I first moved to Sevilla in 1993, then they started digging it up and discovered ruins that held up any building for several years. And then they started constructing The Setas.
The market was shifted over just before Christmas last year and although the building is now officially “open” there’s still some construction going on. When the scaffolding first started coming down, unveiling the first seta (in the foreground of the photo) I was startled to find myself liking how elegant it looked, swooping up towards the sky. But as more of the structure became visible I became less entranced. So I remain undecided. I guess the real test will be how well the site ends up being used. Aside from the market there will be bars and restaurants (coming soon!), and there’s a big shaded area up on the first level which has a small playground for children, benches for adults, and will apparently be used for concerts. There is also a walkway along top of the structure with panoramic views of the city which residents of Sevilla will be able to access free of charge. Anyhow, for better or worse, there it is.
What do you think?
I didn’t have to live thru the construction, so from that perspective, your pic makes me want to see Las Setas up close and personal.
FWIW, the World Trade Center towers took either 25 or 35 years to finish, too, and their NYC neighbors hated the construction process, too. But we sure do miss ’em, now.
I do like the sweep and flow of the structure – and your pic is lovely.
Thanks! I’m quite pleased at how that pic turned out too, considering I just snapped it with my iPhone while walking by. For me it’s the nicest perspective. From the other side it looks clunky and decidedly “unsweepy”.
Ok, so maybe my comment about it looking like a burst mattress was harsh, but it really does resemble one of those wooden dinosaur kits you buy from craft shops.
Walked over it today, and my thought was that its going to be baking hot in summer, with no relieving greenery in site….what is is with the Spanish and their obsession with paving (just having come from Caceres, where the Plaza Mayor is being transformed into a migrane-inducing expanse of unrelenting acres of brick..
I’m not sure I’ll ever have the nerve to walk over it, but you’re right about only mad dogs, etc doing so in the summer HEAT. Though the “plaza mayor” should be shaded by the Parasols…
The Alameda was seriously paved over a few years ago. Looks very bleak now.
Thought I’d posted this night shot. I think it looks cool…
I have just returned from a short trip to Seville and loved Las Setas. We walked along the top and the view of the city was wonderful with the sweeping parasols in the foreground. We were too late for the market or to see the Roman remains other than through the glass walls. However, I think the whole thing has been well done. Yes, I guess it was awful to see the destruction of fine old buildings in the 60s but not having known that I think you are lucky to get something so beautiful; you should see what they have built in the centre of the ancient market town where I live in the UK! A monstrosity of a department store (and the inside is pretty useless, too!)
I can’t imagine the place without Las Setas anymore. It really was sad and tired looking before. Also like that more bars and shops have opened.