We had an amazing journey through Andalucía this past April, and found answers to many of our questions while touring one of the most beautiful regions of Europe. We managed to take well over 1,000 photos, and built a very impressive catalogue of tile, plaster, and carved wood patterns. For those looking for a brilliant adventure, I highly recommend traveling through Southern Spain in April.

Objectives and Results:

• • Cataloging tile patterns. We built a tile catalog spanning Seville, Malaga, Granada, and Cordoba, and combined it with patterns we saw in Morocco and Northern Europe. We will use this catalogue to build our own personal designs for the riad, and then request quotes from various vendors. Our tile efforts will be expanded upon in an upcoming post once we receive some samples and conduct a few tests.

• •  Studying building exteriors. We did not make into the countryside to tour any villas, and saw only a couple of exteriors that fit with our vision. The few examples we saw are indicative to high density areas and not good examples for our purposes. Going forward we will study Spanish Colonial, Mediterranean, and Spanish Revival styles in the U.S.

• • Catalog window framing techniques. Seville Cathedral, Real Alcázar, and the Alhambra provided a wealth of window framing ideas in the Gothic and Mudejar artistic traditions. The Mudejar tradition was unfortunately brief due to the eventual expulsion of non-Catholics from the Spanish Empire.
  

  Window Sill and Frame at Casa De Los Pilatos, Seville. Each window is 180cm x 45cm

  

  One of the many stained-glass windows in the Seville Cathedral. Their size and height made them difficult to photograph. This style can be more easily viewed at the Metz Cathedral in France, or at Saint Chappelle in Paris

  

  Windowsill and shutters at Real Alcázar, Seville

  

  Window Sills at the Alhambra, Granada

  We will more than likely use a simplified version of Gothic framing (Mudejar) combined with geometric stained glass.

  • Experience a Hammam. A Hammam is a Turkish bath heavily influenced by the Roman/Byzantine baths of antiquity. They are comprised of a hot, warm, and cold bath with accompanying steam rooms and massage areas. We spent the afternoon at Hammam Al Andalus in Granada before catching an authentic Flamenco dance performance – and both were amazing, true feasts for the senses visually, mentally, and emotionally. The Hammam used tile patterns found in the Alhambra, and what looked like pre-cast concrete that simulated carved plaster.

• • On the subject of European Spas… My wife Rachel and I are very interested in sauna and European bath/spa culture, and spent a lot of time in various spas or  across Europe. Thermen & Badewelt Sinsheim and Monte Mare and great examples of holistic spas that cater to overall wellness, as opposed to the American version that is almost entirely focused on nails and massages. We loved the design aesthetic at the Hammam, but we both prefer the Northern European spa model. Of course, there are no phones or pictures allowed in these places, so we have no pictures to share. However, you can visit the websites to learn and see more. Whatever you do, make sure you visit a European spa before you die!

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  • Tour a Spanish version of a Riad/Dar. We toured Casa De Los Pilatos during our stay in Seville. The building, along with Real Alcazar, is a hybrid of Renaissance and Mudejar architecture. The original owner built this structure after a trip to Jerusalem and it is a great example of an Roman Atrium Home more than an example of a Riad. There is a basic symmetry in the design, but it lacked the centrally planted trees of  riad in favor of an open space adorned with marble statues.

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  • Study building exteriors to provide European comparisons to Spanish Colonial style found in the United States. We drove from Seville to Ronda, onto Malaga then Granada, and ended in Cordoba. So you could say we saw a lot! However, we did not leave the central portion of the various cities we visited, and therefore we only managed to get a few exterior photos of townhouses and apartment complexes. We will have future opportunities by studying Spanish Colonial and Mediterranean design in the US. As of this entry, I have ordered a book about Spanish Colonial and few design books to start building a base understanding.

• • Catalog Islamic stained glass. Islamic geometric stained glass was relatively rare in Andalucía. The only real examples we saw we are few small pieces in the Mezquita of Cordoba. The best examples of this style of glass seem to be located in Iran, which is sadly a little difficult to travel to due to the current geopolitical climate.

• Questions and Answers:

• • Question: What are the dimensions of patios and extended outdoor corridors?
  • Answer: Formal patios tended to be 2m x 2m at the minimum, and on average 7m x 7m. Extended corridors generally followed the span of the house or were shaped to ‘double’ the footprint so the entire structure resembled a figure 8. Columns were usually 1.8m to 2m apart, and seemed in line with the 3^rd or 4^th reduction of the main space in line with the golden ratio (X/.61).

• • Question: How is wood used in traditional patio houses in regard to flooring and wainscoting?
  • Answer: I did not see any use of wood as wainscoting or flooring, and instead saw it used almost entirely for ceiling decoration.

• • Question: How are rugs used, and what design patterns are evident?
  • Answer: Rugs are not as prevalent in Andalucia as Morocco or other places like Turkey. The local designs focus more on contrasts than abstract design or geometric panels.

  -Mike