Week 8 Alhamra
Alhamra (alt. Alhambra, al-Hamra) [1]
A palace-city (madinat al-hamra) [2] and citadel [1, 2] located in Granada, Iberian Peninsula, Spain. [1]
Created by Ibn al-Ahmar and enhanced by Yusuf III and Muhammad V of the Nasrid Dynasty (14th C.) [2]
Represents the culmination and is one of the unique survivors of a long history of garden-palaces and garden design. [3]
A. Key Features
Gardens [2-4]
Courts [2]
"Palaces" [2]
Epigraphy [2]
Water features [2]
Organized views (vision) [2]
Sensory experience of place [2, 5]
1. Gardens [2]
Generalife (Jannat al-Arif) Gardens [4, 6]
Mirador that provides views of the gardens and vistas. [4]
Lindaraja Gardens [7]
2. Courts [2]
Court of Myrtles/Comares [6, 8, 9]
36 x 23m [8]
Two main halls [9]
Reflecting pool [9]
Water channel [9]
Basins located under the porticoes. [9]
Court of Lions [6, 10, 11]
Water fountain [10]
Water channels running through the pavilions. [10]
3. "Palaces" [2]
Palace of Comares/Myrtles [2, 6, 8]
Court of Myrtles [8]
Comares Tower/Hall of Ambassadors [8, 9]
Deep, projecting windows [9]
Zillej [9]
Carved & inlaid wood ceiling [9]
Wall niche at entrance [9]
Location of Alhambra vases and poetic inscriptions. [9]
Deep window alcoves on three sides that overlook the site & gardens [10]
Palace of the Lions [2, 6, 8, 10, 12]
Court of Lions [8, 10]
Hall of Two Sisters [6, 8, 13]
Muqarnas squinches & dome [13]
Mirador de Lindaraja [7, 8]
Hall of Abencerrajes [6, 8, 13]
Muqarnas dome [13]
Hall of Kings [6, 8]
4. Epigraphy [2, 14]
At least three types of epigraphic content [14]
Emblematic (e.g., slogans) [3, 14]
"Glory is God’s, Kingship is God’s" [14]
"La ghaliba illa Allah (God is the only Victor)" [14]
Poetic (panegyric/praise; descriptive) [3, 12, 14]
Poetry by Ibn Zamrak [11-13]
Moralistic (aphorisms) [3, 10, 14]
"He of fewer words, leaves in peace (qalilu al-kalam, kharaja bi-salam." [10]
5. Water Features [2-4, 9-11, 15]
Reflecting pool in the Court of Myrtles [9]
Water channels [4, 9, 10, 15]
Basins located under the porticoes [9]
Fountain in the Court of Lions [10]
Water cascade through staircase in gardens [15]
6. Organized Views (Vision) [2, 7, 15]
Miradors [4, 7, 15]
Provide framed views of the gardens and surrounding landscape. [7]
Mirrors [15]
7. Sensory Experience of Place [2, 3, 5]
Surfaces & Tactile qualities [3]
Carved & painted stucco [3]
Smooth, colored tiles (zillej) [3, 5, 9, 10, 14]
Inlaid wood ceilings [3]
Vision [3]
Organized views using mirrors and miradors [15]
Water & Light [3]
Modulating the experience of space [3]
Unifying interiors & exteriors [3]
Sound & Light [3]
Sun & Shade. [3]
Textures [5]
Scents [5]
Colors [5]
Sounds [5]
II. Other Structures
Alcazaba (al-Qasaba) [16]
Part of the original construction and main thoroughfares of the city. [16]
Cuarto Dorado (Golden Court) [6, 14]
First audience hall [6]
Carved & painted stucco/plaster wall & decoration [14]
Tile decoration (zillej) [14]
Muqarnas [14]
Geometric patterns [14]
Emblematic inscriptions [14]
Mashwar, alt. Mexuar (Council Hall) [14]
Gallery is not original to the building. [14]
Palace of the Catholic King Charles V [6]
Post-conquest of al-Andalus [6]
III. Important People
Muhammad ibn Yusuf ibn al-Nasr (known as Ibn al-Ahmar) [17]
Founder of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada (1230-1492) [16]
Ibn Zamrak [11-13]
Minister who composed poetry for particular elements and locations in Alhamra. [13]
IV. Historical Context
Crusades & “Reconquesta” [17]
Al-Andalus “re-conquest” [17]
10th century-1492 [17]
The Nasrid kingdom of Granada [17]
13th-15th C [17]
Alhamra [17]
9th C. Fortress [17]
11th-century additions [17]
Nasrid (1230-1492) City & Royal Palaces. [17]
This hierarchical chart outlines the key elements of Alhamra's design, highlighting its intricate organization and the interconnectedness of its various features. The chart emphasizes the importance of water, vision, and sensory experiences in the overall design. Additionally, it provides historical context and identifies key figures associated with Alhamra.