Experiencing architecture, experiencing nature

Abstract

The idea for this thesis came from the recognition of the richness in an architectural experience and the desire to understand more about the meaning of this experience in the larger context of architecture and culture. Andalusia, Spain provides a uniqueness in that it unites, through many years of struggle, two cultures, the Spanish and the Islamic. It begins with the description of a personal architectural experience ... a journey through the Alhambra. From this description a clearer understanding of its meaning is derived. The existence of a dialog between nature and architecture becomes evident in the analysis. Light and shadow are integral in the making of this experience and layered upon these are elements which unify the experience. The integration of these aspects of the architectural experience provide a richer understanding of the definition of the architectural experience. As the experience becomes more clearly understood, its role in Islamic architecture in Spain becomes unveiled. This thesis is an attempt to challenge the personal experience of architecture and to analyze its meanings as a way to extend the understanding of Islamic architecture in Spain.