The Metropolitan is a uniquely conceived jumbo parasol that creates its own spatial environment below the canopy. Its form both tapers outwards and upwards with the mast off-centre to maximise the experience the umbrella generates.
Coming in at 5.5m (18′), 4.2m (14′) or 3.5m (12′) front to back (XXL,  XL and L standard sizes), The Metropolitan occupies a serious footprint.
Ideal for creating a sculptural presence or framing a dramatic view, The Metropolitan is much more than simply a refuge from the sun and rain – though it rises to that challenge effortlessly.
Single installations, linear formations or square-plan configurations are equally successful.
Highest Quality German Engineering
Designed by Peter Culley in collaboration with German master umbrella maker Uhlmann, the parasols come with a one-year overall warranty and selected five-year warranty on parts. They have been tested successfully for their resilience in hurricane conditions and a marine version is also available with salt-resistant components.
Follow this link to see The Metropolitan being erected in an extreme high wind condition at Uhlmann’s factory.
The picture below shows the XL being taken for its first airing in the Bavarian countryside.
The parasol canopies are deployed in under 5 minutes with a household electric screwdriver applied to the side of the mast utilising an Uhlmann patented system. The beauty of this approach is the motor is in your hand and not in a difficult-to-replace location inside the parasol.
Here the parasols are shown demounted and protected in their purpose-designed covers. The bottom bracket is hinged so that each parasol can be removed from its housing. But The Metropolitan is equally striking in its dropped position and stands up to the elements without needing to be moved.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The parasol was originally conceived for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s world famous Fifth Avenue frontage as part of its 2014 major plaza redesign.
This permanent installation has two runs each of seven parasols at either end of the historic façade to create a coherent identity above a mixture of uses beneath.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art keeps the parasols in place all year round.
Colour Options
The Metropolitan is available in an impressive range of hard-wearing fabrics, and the metal components can be powder-coated to any RAL colour. As in all colour choice situations, we recommend using actual samples and printed colour charts. We provide fabric sample charts for the canopy and seams as part of the purchase process.
Click here for the standard range of canopy fabrics:
Sunacryl Stoffmusterkarte 2014
Click here for the second tier price range of canopy fabrics:
Orchestra – Plains fabrics – Solar Fabrics Collection 2017
Fabric seams are made from high endurance artex fabric. Choose a colour that compliments the canopy fabric here:
AIRTEX-classic_2017-03_Samples
Follow this link to the RAL online chart:
Sizing
The Metropolitan comes in 3 standard sizes:
L, XL and XXL
See chart below for sizing (approximate dimensions, rounded for clarity):
Custom sizes will also be considered.
Pricing
Pricing varies according to quantity, base condition and size. All prices are provided on request after an initial consultation. Contact us here to start a dialogue.
Geographic Availability
We ship anywhere. Charges vary and customs duty may apply.
Specified Case-by-case for Local Conditions
We work closely with local contexts to ensure appropriate structural needs are met with a variety of installation configurations depending on ground conditions, wind loading and material finishes. Surface-mounted and in-ground sleeved options are available in a number of forms.
Click here to see the typical surface mounted baseplate detail from Uhlmann:
Bodenplatte mit Bodenhülse_EN
There is also an in-ground sleeve version:
A combination of the two can be formed with a custom height adaptor piece allowing the base plate to be fixed below the finish and the upper sleeve to be flush with the finish condition (for example in a pedestal floor condition).
Optional Extras are also available including graphic treatments, lighting, heaters, protective covers, valences and carriage systems. We will review these possibilities with you as part of the ordering process.
Warranty Conditions
Follow this link for the standard Uhlmann warranty Warranty Conditions
For a downloadable PDF follow this link The Metropolitan Parasol Brochure
Please follow this link to start the order process for the Metropolitan Parasol.
