The recently completed Metropol Parasol in Seville has taken the crown as the world's largest wooden structure. Designed by J. Mayer H. Architects, the shade-providing parasol covers over 5,000 sqm of its 18,000 sqm plot in the Plaza de la Ebcarnacíon and ended up costing a cool €90 million (£80 mil). As you might be able to tell, head architect Jürgen Mayer H. originally worked as a fine artist, and as such, his design incorporates complex sculpture-like shapes and non-repeating elements, meaning that no two parts of the Parasol are identical.

The main purpose of the structure is to offer shade - "a valuable service in a city as sunny and hot as Seville" - making the square a much more liveable space. By placing the supporting columns in an unorthodox arrangement, the parasol cleverly leaves the Roman ruins below entirely undisturbed. This strange arrangement also led to the construction of mushroom stem-like torsos, which feature lifts and stairs up to the stunning walkways.

"The form of this building was inspired by the vaults of Seville's expansive cathedral – I wanted to create a cathedral without walls that would be democratic – and also by the handsome trees already in the square."
–Jürgen Mayer H.

www.jmayerh.de