Any intervention in a historic building, however small, is always subject to a balancing act between respecting the old and daring work with those new parts that should be added. The restoration of the Tower of Huércal-Overa is one example.
The structure is a watchtower that was part of a defensive belt of the border of the Kingdom of Granada ( 13rd Century), is located atop a hill overlooking a wide horizon, which only retained the core elements. The project was to create access to the tower and restore the original state of the same. To achieve this, the place has changed minimally, relying at all times in the topography. The car park has been conducted in an open space exists, the customer service office is a single volume: a box of rusted steel.
This contemporary material causes a categorical distinction between new and old (built with brick walls), especially in the cylindrical body surrounding the spiral staircase which recovers the original entrance of the tower via a walkway of steel and glass . The contrast is brutal and beautiful.
The architects Luis Castillo and Mercedes Miras (Castillo Miras Architects) designed this intervention. Read the rest of this entry »
South of town Tefia Fuerteventura is a small farming village called La Alcogida straight out of time. This is an open-air museum village restored as it constitutes a unique example of how life was for our ancestors in Fuerteventura.
I have had the opportunity to visit a few days ago and we decided to comment on, considering it an outstanding example of architectural restoration and a very well planned cultural activity to understand the architecture of the island.
The Alcogida is formed by a group of rural houses two grain mills and a chapel restored in accordance with the traditional architecture of the island and with the same materials that were originally built as stone, clay, lime or sand. The houses differ from each other in order to show visitors how were the residences of the wealthier families against those humble. They all can appreciate a great work of restoration, as performed in drywall or in the corners and window and door openings with ashlar masonry resolved volcanic rocks in the area. Read the rest of this entry »
The choir of the Cathedral of Seville hosts from today until February 6 Aedificare exposure, Evangelizare, servare. Five centuries of architecture in the cathedral of Seville, a sign that through historical documents, audiovisual, art objects, furniture and antiquities explains the eventful life of this giant temple.
The sample includes 600 square meters in 80 articles that review the creation of the Magna Hispalensis into three parts: the first devoted to the construction of the largest Gothic building in the world, the second to the restoration suffered between 1775 and 1992, and third on the conservation and maintenance of the current stage.
All the objects on display stands out for its importance and because it is the first time shown, the plane known as Vidaurreta first technical representation of the Cathedral and served five centuries ago, to be lifted.
In April 2008, loyal readers remember, I did a post on the Plaza Vieja in Havana and restoration of facades. My photos were dated February 2006, were still left to restore a building that was damn need.
That is nicely done.
To demonstrate these pictures for me in February 2010 by a core of good will who went on site (thank you Jacques for giving me this service).
Old Havana is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Read the rest of this entry »
It was at Villefranche-sur-Mer lies the Chapel of St. Peter Fisherman decorated (inside and outside) by Jean Cocteau. In love with the city and in this dilapidated chapel in the Romanesque style that served as distributed to fishermen in 1957 the artist decided with their agreement, to restore it.
The exterior is in harmony with ocher and white, and inside (currently at the end of restoration) the walls are entirely covered with drawings by Jean Cocteau. Read the rest of this entry »
