Architects: Gabriel Verd + Buró4

Collaborators: Álvaro Valverde, Alejandro Barbadillo, Alfonso Clemente, Verónica Rodríguez, Carlos Sánchez, Jorge Rodríguez

Year: 2022 (Competition)

Customer: Habitat inmobiliaria

The site for this project is situated at one of Seville’s most prominent entrances—a privileged location adjacent to Torre Sevilla, just minutes from the historic center and in close proximity to Triana and La Isla de la Cartuja. The surroundings offer extensive green areas, riverside promenades, leisure spaces, and an excellent public transport network, as well as immediate access to the SE-30 via Avenida de la Expo ’92. Its strategic position, combined with spectacular views over the Vega del Guadalquivir and the Aljarafe, makes it a unique location for both living and investment.

This is one of the areas with the greatest potential in the city. Redeveloping the site of the former Torre Mapfre means reclaiming the attributes of the tower concept—reinforcing its iconic character as it stands beside Seville’s only skyscraper (with the exception of the Giralda)—and consolidating its role as a new urban landmark at one of the most prominent gateways to the Andalusian capital.

A tower is not defined solely by its height, but by the proportion between its height and its base. The resulting volumetry of constructing 7,500 m² under the regulatory conditions for height (B+X) and setbacks creates a mass that, when viewed from the Aljarafe approach, conveys more of a sense of a wall than a tower. To counter this, we propose that the building approach Avenida Expo ’92 be characterized by an iconic presence, utilizing a fragmented volumetric composition that suggests the perception of two towers rather than one.

The 69 dwellings are organized around a central corridor, which defines the volumetric difference between the two main bodies (East and West). These prisms are distinguished by a vertical slit of windows marking the end of each corridor.

The formal fragmentation also responds to a dialogue with the surrounding buildings, maintaining a tension between integration with the immediate environment and the iconic character of the north façade, where the volume is clearly expressed as a tower. The new building will also enjoy privileged views spanning all orientations.

The project aims to achieve the highest sustainability standards, promoting efficient construction that generates economic, environmental, and social benefits for everyone connected to the building.

Economic savings: Sustainable design significantly reduces energy consumption (by 50–70%), water use (by up to 40%), and operating and maintenance costs (by up to 8%).
Environmental benefits: CO₂ emissions are minimized throughout the building’s entire life cycle, from construction to demolition.
Social benefits: This type of building ensures better air quality, appropriate lighting levels, and acoustic comfort, directly improving the quality of life of its users.