The elevations of the courtyard of al-Badi palace of Marrakech. Design and construction by the “trial and error” method?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3989/arq.arqt.2017.012Keywords:
Saadian architecture, palaces, design process, design corrections, wall face analysisAbstract
In this article the elevations of the façades of the four bays that bound the central courtyard of the al-Badi’ Palace of Marrakech are analyzed. Despite having been pillaged of all their ornamental coatings, they presented enough a footprint for conducting an investigation and interpretation. This includes not only of the original composition but the design and construction process from which were generated. It is of particular relevance to distinguish between various design errors and subsequent corrections in the composition of at least two of the elevations that can be observed thanks to the plundering of the coatings. Thus, it is possible to observe how an initial layout of the attached pilasters with which the façades were articulated was modified through, partially demolishing the previously constructed ones to provide a different rhythm and less separation. Up to three different successive solutions can be seen in some portions. This article also includes the study of other secondary structures of the Palace.
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