TIME TO ENJOY
A LOOK INTO SEVILLE’S MODERNITY
It is easy to spot the mark left by history in the architectural heritage of Seville, and it is striking how often the traditional and the most current styles coexist.
History and the eclectic nature of architecture converge over the centuries in this region, something that is evident in the archaeological site of Italica, the extensive cultural legacy of Al-Andalus, and the presence of art from the Baroque period and the 19th century.
But this time, we would like to show you the current side of Seville, a city whose architecture was heavily influenced by the Universal Exhibition that was held in 1992 and marked a turning point, as it brought in modernity.
If you arrive in Seville by plane, you will land at San Pablo Airport, built by Rafael Moneo, but if you are traveling by train, you will get to see Sevilla Santa Justa Station, by Cruz and Ortiz Architects. Both are symbols of the process of refurbishing infrastructures that ended in 1992, a crucial year for the urban and architectural development of the city.
The Metropol Parasol by the German architect Jürgen Mayer is an undisputed icon of contemporary European architecture. Popularly known as ‘Las Setas de Sevilla’ (Seville’s Mushrooms), in this construction from 2011, you can find a viewpoint, bars and restaurants, and the Sala Antiquarium, which exhibits the archaeological remains found during the construction work.
Two modern bridges go from the old town crossing the Guadalquivir River towards the Isla de la Cartuja, where the Expo 92′ was held: The Alamillo Bridge by architect Santiago Calatrava, characterized by the braces that support and stabilize it and the light and harmonious Puente de la Barqueta by Juan José Arenas de Pablo and Marcos Jesús Pantaleón Prieto.
On the Isla de la Cartuja you can find the Andalusian Center for Contemporary Art (CAAC) in the former Carthusian Monastery, the Caixaforum cultural center built by Guillermo Vázquez Consuegra, as well as the Schindler Tower. There is also the Triana Tower, for which Saenz de Oiza got inspired by the Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, and the Pelli Tower, the first skyscraper in Seville and the tallest building in Andalusia, built by César Pelli.
It is still possible to find some of the most exceptional pavilions from Expo 92′ that survived the demolitions after the exhibition ended and were repurposed for new uses.
Combining the traditional local architecture and the most innovative architectural styles, the new Centro Cerámica Triana is a museum dedicated to the history and tradition of the iconic Sevillian tiles located in the old Santa Ana Ceramic Factory.
Designed by AF6 Architects, the magnificent lattice work inspired by the Mudejar style prevailing in this city is outstanding. This age-old solution may be familiar to you since one of the main features of the renovation of the original building where the Hotel Plácido y Grata is now is the large lattice overlooking the courtyard that filters the light, generating geometric shapes.
Read more about the renovation works carried out in Plácido y Grata here.
