The architectural transformation of the Mezquita in Córdoba
A historical analysis of the architectural transformation of the Mezquita in Córdoba.
I. Charafi (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
M.M. Teunissen – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / A)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
This thesis investigates how historical events between the 8th and 16th centuries shaped the architectural transformation of the Mezquita of Córdoba. Originally constructed under Umayyad rule as a mosque and later converted into a Christian cathedral after the Reconquista, the building reflects centuries of political, religious and cultural change. Through historical and architectural analysis, this thesis explores how each ruling phase: Umayyad foundations, Caliphal refinement under Al-Hakam II, the large-scale expansion by Al-Mansur and later Christian modifications, introduced distinct structural and stylistic interventions. These expansions did not erase earlier layers but added to a complex, hybrid monument that embodies both continuity and conflict. The Mezquita thus serves as a case study of how architecture expresses shifting ideologies and remains a site of memory, negotiation and debate.