ANDALUSIA COURT
When Umayyad-rule began in southern Spain, Al-Andalus (Andalusia or Muslim Spain) became one of the greatest centers of civilization. It became known for its art, poetry, architecture, science and learning. The monuments left behind give evidence to the cultural wealth of the Muslim rulers of the time. By the time Ibn Battuta visited Andalusia (1350), the Muslim civilization in Spain was threatened and would soon decline. He saw Andalusia in its golden sunset years.
Ibn Battuta visited the cities of Malaga, Alhama and Granada.
Granada was a shining star of Andalusia with beautiful courtyards, fountains and exquisitely decorated halls and courts. It is also here where Ibn Battuta met Ibn Juzzay, a writer of history, poetry and law who would subsequently write down a complete record of Ibn Battuta’s travels.
Islamic architecture in Spain shows a strong preference for elaborate, decorative effects. In the earlier period stone and stucco were favoured, and later, brick replaced stone and polychrome tiling was also included.
Main and Minor Courts
The Great Mosque of Cordoba and the Alhambra Palace in Granada were the main sources of inspiration for the design of the Andalusia Court in the shopping mall. The lofty halls, accentuated with rows of arches, create a sense of elevated space.
“Horseshoe-arches”, with alternating red brick and white stone, are a characteristic feature of Andalusian architecture. These can be found all along the wall-spaces of the Main and Minor courts. These arches are often intersected by multi-foil arches, carved with intricate designs, to create a multi-tiered façade that gives a sense of lightness to the interior.
The central arches of the Main Court have gilded foliage designs and are inspired by the mihrab of the Great Mosque of Cordoba.
The arcade leading up to the next court features complex interlaced arches, carved from white marble. These arches, resting on white marble columns, are evidence of the elaborate decorative style favoured by the rulers of Andalusia.
The central feature of the Main Court is the “Lion Fountain” based on the fountain in the “Court of the Lions” in the Alhambra Palace. This elegant water-feature, with its eight lion statues, is surrounded by lofty marble columns.
Looking up towards the ceiling, one can see that this whole central area is shaped in the form of a star. This idea is borrowed from the magnificent dome of the “Hall of the Abencerrajes” in the Alhambra Palace. The ceiling itself follows this pattern which is accentuated with heavy wooden beams.
A majestic brass chandelier hangs in the center and brings a sense of completion to this ensemble of balance and harmony.
The sumptuous wooden ceilings in this court and in the forecourt are accentuated with painted and gilded motifs and are inspired by the likes of the one in the prayer hall in the Great Mosque of Cordoba.
Exterior
On the exterior, the red stone walls and terracotta tile roof give a distinct Spanish feel to the court similar to the Alhambra. Window grills have intricate Islamic interlaced patterns, reflecting the carved marble friezes of the interior.
The pointed battlements on top of the walls were common features found on palace or city walls during Ibn Battuta’s time.