BUILDING ANALYSIS DISCRIPTION

Alhambra Palace complex, Granada

The Alhambra palace complex is formed by a group of palaces, gardens and defense
strength that forms a complete whole palace city that once housed the sultan, his
government while a citadel from with in its precinct was a real city with all means necessary
for survival.

Alhambra palace has rich decorations and ornamentations all inspired from Moorish arts
and architecture that includes the honey comb vaulting called murqarnas, horse shoe
arches, voussoirs, crenellation arches and the tile work called “zillige” geometrically
patterned mosaics.

The palace was conceived for the man pleasing sensations proportions that included
Auditory with running water, visual with light and color and olfactory through the gardens.

The Alhambra complex analysis revealed that it was built over the centuries, it resembles
many medieval Christian strongholds with its three-fold arrangement

Castle, palace and residential annex for subordinates.

Alhambra lacks the determinate floor plan and therefore the set is being created through
independent units built around courtyards. These are joined and separated by gardens,
arches and columns with no particular architectural center. This apparent lack of control is
compensated with urban harmony in the joint around three geographical regions: the
Mexuar, the Comares room and bedroom Lions.

Alhambra’s most celebrated structures are its three original palaces comares palace, the
palace of the lions and the partal palace. These palaces feature elaborate courts with
ornamentation on the columns and follow axial planning throughout the structure. The
openings through arches and windows follow strict proportions that remain same
throughout.

In the Alhambra it uses a singular columns system, which appears in no other construction.
It is a very fine column cylindrical shaft with a concave base and decorative trim rings on
top. The capital, divided into two bodies, presented in the first cylinder-shaped, very simple
decor and on it a prism with rounded angles of the base, decorated plasterwork.

The architectural features of Alhambra revolve around dominated light, open and closed
forms all of which work together in creating a balance that is further uplifted by its exquisite
ornamented interiors where the predominance of horizontal lines over the vertical is clearly
depicted.  Alhambra’s architecture’s recurring theme revolves around garden fountains and
water canals with shaded patios and covered walkways that pass from well-lit interior
spaces onto shaded courtyards and sun-filled gardens all enlivened by the reflection of
water and intricately carved stucco decoration.