Cathedral-Mosque of Cordoba for architects (VII): Renaissance Cathedral.

Gothic Cathedral (pale blue) and Renaissance Cathedral (dark blue) over Almanzor Mosque.

After the fall of Granada in 1492 and complete Christianization of the ancient Nasrid capital, many voices in Córdoba called for the complete transformation of the Mosque into Christian Cathedral, as it had happened in Seville Cathedral, where Gothic fabric replaced Muslim building excepting Patio de los Naranjos and minaret, which was transformed into bell tower (Giralda). In 1523 Emperor Charles I approved a project from the City Council. They commissioned the works to Hernán Ruiz the Elder, who already had experience in the Cathedral of Seville.

Hernan Ruiz was able to solve all problems basing on a thorough knowledge of late Gothic architecture and the fragile continuous mosque structure. Thus, both site selection and construction methods employed searched for the use and integration of existing elements, as in the first Gothic intervention. 

Current Vault plan

In this way qibla wall built by Abderrahman I, who had been drilled in Abderrahman II enlargement and continued by Almanzor, was considered one of the strongest elements in the building and used as basis for new buttresses. Resulting symmetric system absorbed two bays, which guaranteed respect for existing structure which surrounds the cathedral. 

 Elevation from Patio de los naranjos

 Transverse Section from Alhaquén II enlargement.

 Transverse Section of Renaissance Cathedral. 

Longitudinal Section from Mihrab Axis.

Access was done using eastern wall, which had been drilled in Almanzor enlargement. Horizontal load was absorbed by buttresses placed over the columns, which served to define the side chapels. 

Central Nave of Renaissance Cathedral. 

Transept vault in Renaissance Cathedral.

Cathedral access was made from the axis defined by Al-Hakem II mirhab, which is now is interrupted by both two Christian churches, finally breaking its Islamic sacred character. 

Access to Cathedral from Mihrab axis.

Despite criticism, which considered this intervention as something alien breakings the Islamic isotropic space, the fact is that the cathedral was inserted with great precision and shows the architect ability link two seemingly opposing spaces.

Lateral Nave in Renaissance Cathedral. New Gothic Vaults are supporteb by Ummayad arcades.

Transept.

Despite the Cathedral annuls Islamic spatial grid and successive mosques differentiating elements, the very construction of Hernán Ruiz allows an unitary understanding of Islamic building, which now equally involves the Cathedral.

Aerial view of the Mosque Cathedral.

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

Author: Pablo Álvarez Funes