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Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba for architects (I)

The Cordoba Mosque-Cathedral is a building sublime result of historical evolution special architectural and overlapping the opposite spatial criteria without necessarily contradictory. The successive interventions carried out as architects Caliphate as Christians are all a lesson about how to deal with a building and how to adapt to different needs over time. When confronted with its forest of columns from which emerges the volume of the cathedral we feel overwhelmed by a host of historical data, sometimes mere anecdotes, reflected in documentation too simple graphic that captures the complexity and quality of future actions and delves into the topic romantic whereby Christian interventions, notably alternating spatial and religious conception of the building, preventing the appreciation of the abstract, neutral space and time Caliphate both are inferior.

Touristic map of the mosque, with colors indicating the various extensions caliph without regard to Christian interventions.

However, little is to analyze the subsequent sequence of actions we realize that each of them is with a deep understanding of the potential existing buildings to such an extent that we can not talk about extensions to the Umayyad Mosque original but new mosques in which the front is absorbed as a part, a process that continues with the Christianization of the temple is a holistic understanding of the Islamic stage that transcends the successive interventions to wrap equally to the two Christian cathedrals, spatially and structurally integrated into the building Islam.

evolutionary sequence of successive extensions of the existing plant Caliphate, which gives an idea of \u200b\u200bthe spatial changes produced

axonometric of the Mosque of Cordoba, with a view of the interior in which to appreciate the different spatial landmarks: Capilla de Villaviciosa, maqsura and two Christian cathedrals surrounded by the forest of columns Caliphate.

Architecturally three periods we can establish well differentiated in the history of the Mosque: first the Islamic period of successive enlargements / construction of new mosques. As we shall see, the work of successive emirs and caliphs were more than simple upgrades, construction of new mosques in which the former were absorbed as a part. After the Christian conquest takes place the consecration of the Christian church building, while all mosques were demolished Córdoba, Mosque Aljama is preserved and built inside the successive cathedrals (Gothic plateresca in 1489 and 1523). In 1740 a series of reforms rush on deck and painted white all the arches, giving the appearance Mosquel unit that will last a few decades, as from 1815, with the restoration of mirhab, begins the stage of restoration / conservation of the Mosque-Cathedral.

The Mosque in 1567. Detail from a drawing by Anton Van den Wyngaerde

Interior of the Mosque Cathedral in 1806, according to a recording of Alexandre Laborde. Note the arches still painted white.

Until then the interventions had been natural, following principles that the artist considered again, was of previous positions, participating in the idea of \u200b\u200bprogress. But the mentality that restorative breaks and sets its target in a moment of the past. The first two stages were the time of the artist, those involved in loving and destroying the temple to build something new under necessary and a thorough knowledge of architectural reality on which it sits. The third is the time of the restorers, who care for history and so are its prisoners.

Ricardo Velázquez Bosco. Restoration project for one of the gates of the eastern facade (Almanzor extension).

Reading offered at the School of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend , Indiana (USA), January 21, 2011.

Author: Pablo Álvarez Funes

What Does Ol In Football Do?

Cathedral-Mosque of Cordoba for architects (I).

Cathedral-Mosque of Cordoba is a sublime building with a very special historical and architectural developments and where opposed spatial criteria overlap without being necessarily contradictory. Successive enlargements carried out by Caliphate and Christians architects are a lesson about how to deal with a building and how to adapt to different needs over time. When we arrive at its forest of columns from which emerges the volume of the cathedral, we feel overwhelmed by a myriad of historical data, which often remain in the anecdote, and which are reflected only in a very simple graphic documentation that does not capture the complexity and quality of each actions and relapses into the romantic topic whereby Christian interventions, which have notably alternated the building spatial and religious conception, blocks the appreciation of the Caliphate abstract and neutral space and have therefore inferior quality.

Touristic plan using colours to show different muslim additions but ignoring the christian ones. 

However, if we analyze the subsequent sequence of actions, we realize that each of them was built with a deep understanding of existing architectural potential to such an extent that we can not talk about enlargements to the original Umayyad Mosque, but new mosques where former spaces are absorbed as a part, a process that continues with the Christianization of the temple. Final result is a holistic understanding of the Islamic stage that transcends successive interventions to wrap equally to the two Christian cathedrals, which are space and structurally integrated into the Islamic building.

Sequence of consecutive muslim additions over current floorplan; this allow us to understand its spacial changes.

Axonometric view: some parts of the interior are seen and show different spaces: Villaviciosa Chapel, mirhab and both christian cathedrals surrounded by former mosque.

Architecturally we can establish three different periods in the history of the Mosque: Islamic period with successive enlargements / construction of new mosques. As we will see, successive emirs and caliphs didn't only enlarge the building, but they built real new mosques in which the former were absorbed as a part. After Christian conquest the building was consecrated as Christian church. While all mosques in Cordoba were demolished, Aljama Mosque was preserved and cathedrals were built inside it (Gothic in 1489 and Renaissance in 1523). Roofs were replaced in 1740 and all the arches painted in white, giving an unitary appearance to the Cathedral-Mosque that will only last a few decades. Restoration / preservation stage begins in 1815, with the restoration of mirhab.

The Mosque-Cathedral in 1567. Detail of a drawing by Anton Van den Wyngaerde

Interior of the Mosque-Cathedral in 1806, engraving by Alexandre Laborde. Arcades were still painted in white. 

Until then interventions had been natural, following principles that were considered new by the artist. These principles exceeded previous positions, participating in the idea of progress. But restorative mentality breaks that and sets its objectives in a moment of the past. First two stages were time for artists, who take part in the temple, loving and destroying it to build something new and necessary thorough the knowledge of its architectural reality. The third is restorers time, who take care for history and so they are its prisoners.

Ricardo Velázquez Bosco. Restauration projecto for a door in Eastern Façade (Almanzor enlargement). 

Lecture taught at Notre Dame School of Architecture in South Bend, Indiana (USA), January 26, 2011.
Author: Pablo Álvarez Funes

Fatty Liver Palpitations

Barack Obama, Nobel Peace ignoble

This stinking story of the murder of bin Laden continues to sow doubts about how, and when . This allows us to murder hundreds of questions about the veracity of the story as was told by Obama himself, but also, if everything is how they say it has been, the fact can not be more revolting.

The disappearance of the former employee of the CIA, Osama Bin Laden a criminal, I bring it to cool. However I am concerned about several things:

* The continuing violation of the rule of law

* That believe citizens are thinking deeply stupid and we swallow any story, even though it is full of toads and snakes.

The issue is now more than ever the world is more unsafe and more fragile and so because we have some terrible truths .

* The violation of the sovereign territory of Pakistan by a group of CIA mercenaries sent by the Nobel Peace Prize to kill an individual.

* U.S. sources confirm when they entered the house where he lived an alleged Bin Laden, he was not armed , however they had to kill because he resisted. I wonder how he can resist one of a battalion of mercenaries killed, arms covered to the cops, if one is disarmed.

* The way they learn where is hiding. According to admissions by CIA director, Leon Panetta, information was obtained through "coercive interrogation techniques" , metaphorical way of saying through countless torture , Including the infamous "art of the bath" or "waterboarding."

The questioned has been Khalid Sheik Mohammed, mastermind of operating off course the September 11th attacks, captured in 2003 (by the way, has never had a trial) through which arrive at the residence Bin Laden.

Human Rights Defenders Emperor Obama recalled that during his campaign for access to the presidency, promised, forcefully eradicate these tactics of question, arguing that represent a "betrayal of American values \u200b\u200band principles" . How fragile is the memory!

Faced with such nonsense, the only thought European would call the standard brain of the presidents of the member countries of the European Union, including our ineffable Zapatero, have taken only a few moments boast and welcomed the news, without getting any kind of question, reflection, criticism or similar.

This morning in parliamentary session, Gaspar Llamazares has accused the president of "not to recognize its silence regarding such a serious event of state terrorism" by the CIA. Zapatero replied that "the fate of Bin Laden is a destination sought by him ". (I have had my gossips of the town and Court, who after deep reflection peers and has had to take a nap to recover)

insist that this story that we will only know some remains true if platforms like Wikileaks, has been extremely well to the character Obama, who polls last hours has gone through the roof. According to Reuters, massively overwhelming percentage of U.S. citizens are in favor of torture.

seen in light of the request that the nomination of Barack Obama Peace Prize ignoble.