You’re looking at Las Setas, the vast timber structure in the centre of Seville that’s thought to be the largest in the world. Over six years of construction led to this - a completely unique and undulating sculptural form.
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Plaza de la Encarnación once housed a busy food market in the 19th century, however it spent much of the following century falling into disrepair. The neglected market buildings were demolished one by one until no real purpose was left to justify its place at the heart of the city. In the 1990s, construction even began on a car park, until Roman and Moorish ruins were discovered on site, halting the diggers completely.
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Following a competition, the task of redeveloping the square fell to German architect Jürgen Mayer. The latticework that he envisioned now not only hosts a market, but a series of elevated walkways and cafes in the canopy. Seville remains a relatively low city, so the 26 meter height of the structure is enough for those at the top to be able to see across the entire city.
Words by @therealalfiemunkenbeck