Tag Archives: architecture

greed

20 Wednesday Jun 2018

Posted by in andalucia, sevilla, spain

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Here you see the landmark Edificio La Adriática in Avenida de la Constitución, now reduced to housing cheap & cheesy souvenir shops. Below was once a traditional family-run shop in Calle Francos that is now a tacky “express market” catering to the tourists living in all the holiday apartments in the area. It’s bad enough that we’ve already lost Barrio Santa Cruz to this sort of crass tourist-focused commercialism, but now it’s spreading further afield. There is almost no more affordable decent housing in the Casco Antiguo. Likewise, independent shops have been closing in droves, only to be replaced with shit like this.

Yes, tourism is one of the most important industries in Sevilla. Heck, it is also (in part) how I make a living. But by destroying the centre of town like this, what will be left to attract people here? Before long what was once one of the most charming and beautiful cities in Spain will soon become a wasteland filled with tacky shops, awful bars and restaurants, and streets filled with huge tourist groups. Wait… soon become? It’s already happening. Shocking that the local government is just looking at the short term profits. You’d think the Spanish would have learned by now that if you over-fish an area then soon there is nothing left. I hope there is still time to turn this terrible greed-fueled trend around.

what fresh hell is this???

08 Monday May 2017

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Honestly, could this be any uglier? The new riverside Tourist Centre is already an eyesore and it hasn’t even opened yet. It will eventually house a tourist office, a flamenco museum and a couple of bars.

But just look at it. It’s not only hard to believe that it’s a new building, but even that it was built in this century. There are actually two of those hideous massive wonky ramps. And the space for the tourist centre, etc… to be honest, words fail me.

So you know, this is located next to the San Telmo bridge, where the old port warehouses used to be. When I first moved here the warehouses were still in use and, although quite run down, they had character. Now they are gone and replaced by this horror. I still can’t believe it. It’s heartbreaking.

the mirador

10 Tuesday May 2011

Posted by in culture

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[click on image to enlarge]

So remember back when I HATED this place, but after the scaffolding was taken down I found myself quite liking “The Setas“?  Well, the other day they finally opened the Mirador on top and Nog & I went up to have a look. Amazing. I was captivated as much by the cool curvy architecture as with the panoramic views of the city. I was also scared out of my wits at one point when, despite the barrier, there was suddenly just a sheer drop in front of me and seriously wide open spaces. Not the best situation for an agoraphobe like me. So I snapped a few quick shots of that particular view – in which I could actually see my rooftop terrace, including Loki sitting in the upstairs window! – and made it back to the “safety” of curvy structure around me.

I’m also amazed to discover that the Metropol Parasol (to give its proper name) is becoming one of my favourite places in town. The market is wonderful, as is the little bar inside that makes up super-fresh and super-cheap grilled or fried fish, and I’m looking forward to the other tapas bars and restaurants opening soon, including the one on top in the Mirador. If you’d told me this six months ago I’d have said you were nuts.

So, what do you think?

las setas

29 Tuesday Mar 2011

Posted by in culture, history, sevilla, spain

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Undecided…

This past Sunday was the official opening of the Metropol Parasol – aka Las Setas (The Mushrooms). I stayed away from the celebrations but snapped this pic of it yesterday once everything was back to the usual work-a-day crowds. While it was going up, which took years, I hated the damn thing as much as everyone else seemed to and couldn’t imagine how such a monstrosity would “fit” into such a beautiful old city as Sevilla. Though it’s actually sitting in the middle of the Encarnación Plaza, which had its heart and soul cut out of it during a fit of sixties “rebuilding” which destroyed palaces and old houses and left a strip of hideous office buildings and storefronts. But I digress…

The Setas (how can you not call them that?) are on the original site of the Encarnación Market which was levelled and moved to a “temporary” site next door … about 35 years ago. I don’t know the whole story there other than the original site was pretty much a parking lot when I first moved to Sevilla in 1993, then they started digging it up and discovered ruins that held up any building for several years. And then they started constructing The Setas.

The market was shifted over just before Christmas last year and although the building is now officially “open” there’s still some construction going on. When the scaffolding first started coming down, unveiling the first seta (in the foreground of the photo) I was startled to find myself liking how elegant it looked, swooping up towards the sky. But as more of the structure became visible I became less entranced. So I remain undecided. I guess the real test will be how well the site ends up being used. Aside from the market there will be bars and restaurants (coming soon!), and there’s a big shaded area up on the first level which has a small playground for children, benches for adults, and will apparently be used for concerts. There is also a walkway along top of the structure with panoramic views of the city which residents of Sevilla will be able to access free of charge. Anyhow, for better or worse, there it is.

What do you think?

[also posted on the Sevilla Blog]