Sobre Arqueología y Arquitectura en Medina Azahara. Entrevista a Rafael Manzano Martos

Abstract

RESUMENRafael Manzano Martos, arquitecto y catedrático, dirigió Medina Azahara entre 1975 y 1985. La entrevista, ilustrada con fotos inéditas de su archivo privado, empieza recordando sus inicios en la arqueología y sus maestros Torres Balbás, Chueca Goitia, Gómez Moreno e Íñiguez Almech, con quienes se formó como restaurador de monumentos e historiador. Se comentan los criterios y el lenguaje de su importante intervención en el Salón Rico, tras hablar de su antecesor Félix Hernández y su contexto profesional. Se citan también sus intervenciones en el palacio de Yaafar, en la Dar al-Mulk, y en la Dar al-Yund. Se recuerdan sus inquietudes sobre la urbanística del conjunto, su jardinería, la traída de agua y electricidad, y la escasez de medios económicos o personales. Finalmente se comentan algunas singularidades de Medina Azahara, donde confluye su visión como arquitecto con la historia y la arqueología.Palabras clave: Córdoba califal; Rafael Manzano; intervenciones; siglo XX. ABSTRACTProfessor Rafael Manzano Martos, architect, was the director of the Madinat al-Zahra archeological site [1975][1976][1977][1978][1979][1980][1981][1982][1983][1984][1985]. The interview, ilustrated with unpublished photos from his private archives, starts by recalling his beginnings in archeology and his masters Torres Balbás, Chueca Goitia, Gómez Moreno and Íñiguez Almech, with whom he trained as restorer of monuments and historian. The criteria and language of his important intervention in the "Salón Rico" are discussed after talking about his predecessor Félix Hernández and his professional context. His interventions in the "palacio de Yaafar", in "Dar al-Mulk", and in "Dar al-Yund" are also mentioned. His concerns about urban planning, gardening, water and electricity, and the scarcity of economic resources and understaffing are recalled. Finally, some singularities of Madinat al-Zahra are discussed, where his vision as an architect converges with history and archeology.

The Pinelo Palace in Seville: the restoration works by Rafael Manzano between 1969 and 1981

“…Rafael Manzano Martos was born in Cadiz in 1936 and obtained his architect degree in 1961 at the Higher Technical School of Architecture of Madrid. He was a pupil of Manuel Gómez Moreno, Leopoldo Torres Balbás, Fernando Chueca Goitia, and Francisco Íñiguez Almech, with who he specialized in architecture history and restoration theory and techniques applied to historical monuments [16].…”

“…Since 1982, the architect is a member of the Real Academia de Buenas Letras de Sevilla, besides, a member of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid, and other royal academies. Rafael Manzano was Director-Curator of the Alcázar of Seville from 1970 to 1988, spokesman of the Patronato de la Alhambra between 1971 and 1980, and Director-Restorer of Medina Azahara in Córdoba from 1975 to 1985 [16].…”