From inhabitat, five “must-see design destinations.” (Actually, the magazine has ten, but we’re selective.)
First up, from Spain, the Metropol Parasol in Sevlle:
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Metropol Parasol opened in Seville, Spain just last year, welcoming visitors to its open plazas, retails spaces and cafes. Designed by Jurgen Mayer H. Architects, the undulating parasols of interlocking wooden panels are the world’s largest wooden structure. The sprawling canopies cover walkways and promenades in the Medieval portion of the city, adding a museum, farmer’s market and elevated restaurant to the richly historical city.
Would have been ideal for Vancouver, no?
Seems great for a hot sunny climate. I don’t think it would have worked for Vancouver….Not to say we should not be trying to improve our public spaces, but not with that design.
For the same reasons as Rico, my canopied square fantasies rely on a glass canopy that only keeps out the rain but lets as much light in as possible. I actually think that the area north of the CPR station next to Canada Place would be a good place for a covered square. In my imaginations, A tripod of 20 story hotel towers would hold up a tree-like canopy over a square of 100-150m diameter. At that height, the canopy shouldn’t make you feel like you were in a mall. The water side facade of the train station would provide some interest, and the transit centre would be below.