Metropol Parasol by J. Mayer H.

Architects J. Mayer. H have completed a giant latticed timber canopy as part of their redevelopment of the Plaza de la Encarnacíon in Seville, Spain.

The Metropol Parasol scheme includes an archaeological museum, a farmers market, an elevated plaza, and bars and restaurants, all contained beneath and within the parasol structure.

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Completion of Metropol Parasol

April 2011 marks the completion of “Metropol Parasol”, the Redevelopment of the Plaza de la Encarnacíon in Seville. Designed by J. MAYER H. architects, this project has already become the new landmark for Seville, – a place of identification and to articulate Seville’s role as one of the world´s most fascinating cultural destinations. “Metropol Parasol” explores the potential of the Plaza de la Encarnacion to become the new contemporary urban centre. Its role as a unique urban space within the dense fabric of the medieval inner city of Seville allows for a great variety of activities such as memory, leisure and commerce. A highly developed infrastructure helps to activate the square, making it an attractive destination for tourists and locals alike.

The “Metropol Parasol” scheme with its impressive timber structures offers an archaeological museum, a farmers market, an elevated plaza, multiple bars and restaurants underneath and inside the parasols, as well as a panorama terrace on the very top of the parasols. Realized as one of the largest and most innovative bonded timber-constructions with a polyurethane coating, the parasols grow out of the archaeological excavation site into a contemporary landmark, defining a unique relationship between the historical and the contemporary city. “Metropol Parasols” mix-used character initiates a dynamic development for culture and commerce in the heart of Seville and beyond.

International Competition: 1. Prize, 2004
Project: 2004-2011
Opening: March 27th 2011
Completion: April 2011
Client: Ayuntamiento de Sevilla and SACYR
Architects: J. Mayer H. Architects
Technical Consultant and Multidisciplinary Engineers for Realization: Arup
Timber Construction Company: Finnforest-Merk GmbH, Aichach

Maison Leguay by Moussafir Architectes

French practice Moussafir Architectes have completed this refurbishment and extension of a house in the Parisian suburbs, adding deep larch wood window frames.

Named Maison Leguay, the project comprises two new matching blocks constructed either side of the original brick house, creating an enclosed inner courtyard.

The connected trio of blocks are separated from one another by narrow glazed gaps.

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Maison Leguay

Cloning a house

In order to preserve the character of this classic brick-and-stone suburban house while doubling its surface area, we decided to duplicate it by adding two side blocks, two ‘clones’ set at right angles to it, where there used to be a shed.

This arrangement has allowed us to create a harmonious trio of buildings set around an inner garden, while preserving the street alignment.

The new home is made up of three dissociated elementary blocks, a square and two rectangles, separated by two narrow glazed gaps and with matching sloping roofs.

With its new truncated roof that lets the light from the south into the living areas laid out on the north side, the ‘stem cell’ blends in so well with its extensions – thanks to its shape, the materials used and its fenestration – that it becomes hard to distinguish the old from the new.

The load-bearing brick used for the original house has been used in the extension as an external protection for its insulation, while rough load-bearing breezeblocks used for the extension line the existing walls, which are thus insulated from inside.

To complete the fusion, large larchwood boxes with windows form glazed openings in all three blocks, offering visual perspectives through the house and into the garden that runs along its north-south axis.

Client: private (Laurence et Frédéric Leguay)
Architects: Jacques Moussafir with Gilles Poirée

Address: 2, rue Charcot, 92270 BOIS COLOMBES

Brief: Restructuring and extending a house
Budget: 360,000 €. ex tax

NSA: 232 sq m (114 sq m restructured + 118 sq m new build)

Date: 2005-2011

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Georgian Meets Modern

Believe it or not this magnificent 1801 house in Somerset, England, was once a shoe company. It took four years and five architects to transform it from business offices into a modern family home for six. The interiors, by London designer Ilse Crawford, are truly astonishing. I'm specially enamored with the bold contrast she created by using super modern decor in such an Old World setting. She made a conscious effort not to fill all 40 rooms with tons of furniture that would interfere with the architecture. Her sense of design is flawless. I don't have words to express my fascination for this place... It's absolutely drool-worthy. If you want to learn more about the design of Dinder House click here.

Images Magnus Marding via T Magazine

D House by Panorama

Chilean architects Panorama have completed this compact cliff-top house in Matanzas, Chile.

The ground floor of the D House contains a living space and a child’s bedroom.

An enclosed terrace to the north provides an outdoor space sheltered from the wind.

The first floor plan is rotated 45 degrees in relation to the ground floor, creating a double-height space over the kitchen/dining area.

The remaining first floor space houses the master bedroom and bathroom.

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Photographs are by Cristobal Valdés.

The following is from the architects:

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Architects: Panorama (Nicolás Valdés+Constanza Hagemann)
Location: Matanzas, Chile
Project Area: 96M2

This house in Matanzas , Chile by Panorama, is situated at the top of a cliff, 65 mts. approximately above sea level.

A two storey house, for a couple and their son, is structured within a square volume of 9 by 9mts.

Inside intersects another volume at a higher level, which is rotated 45 degrees in relation to the floor plan, allowing double heights and the organisation of space in the first floor.

The program is ordered in a simple way, a single space for the living room, dinning room and kitchen and on the back a sleeping area and the stairs to the second floor.

Then, to the side and facing north the terrace, partly enclosed, allowing the users to be outside the days of extreme wind.
Finally, in the diagonal volume, the room and the toilet.

Three defined sectors as the result of the orientation to the panoramic views of the landscape, the isle, the beach and the forest in front of the ocean.