The neighborhood of Albayzin in Granada, Spain, contains several Moorish houses, some dating to the period of the Alhambra, many of which were built in the 16th century. These architectural structures, over time, have been influenced by Castilian, Gothic, and Renaissance traditions and are adorned with various decorative features. (...)
The neighborhood of Albayzin in Granada, Spain, contains several Moorish houses, some dating to the period of the Alhambra, many of which were built in the 16th century. These architectural structures, over time, have been influenced by Castilian, Gothic, and Renaissance traditions and are adorned with various decorative features. The Plan of Special Protection and Interior Modification surveyed 39 Moorish houses in 1990. The conclusion was that about half of the existing houses were in poor condition because the private owners lacked the resources and incentives to rehabilitate the structures. Many of the houses were deteriorating due to natural causes, such as the presence of insects and the effects of the weather, as well as human involvement, including the addition of separate building materials and appendages. The Albayzin quarter was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, acknowledging the great cultural significance of the ensemble of houses that had endured through the centuries. Despite the esteem with which the houses were viewed, many of the houses required restoration.
