The Design Brief® | Volume XXIII | HISTORY SERIES: Historic Architecture from Spain
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WRITTEN BY DR. GLORIA for DAKOTA DESIGN COMPANY
Spanish Exploration of the New World
Spanish design and architecture are important to understand because the Spanish people have influenced not only their home country of Spain but also many other parts of the globe. During the Renaissance in Spain, beginning about 1490, Spanish explorers conquered large parts of what is now Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Virgin Islands, Mexico, South America, and the Philippines, as well as the southern and western United States. So, knowledge of Spanish design means that one also understands the architectural influences that can be seen in all of these varied locales
At that time, the Spanish were great ship-builders and maritime explorers, so they were able to venture great distances across the Atlantic Ocean. Beginning with Christopher Columbus's explorations in 1492 and continuing through the 18th century (1700s), Spanish explorers traveled to and claimed vast territories in the Caribbean, North, and South America. These exploits were motivated by both economic ambition and religious fervor, as the conversion of indigenous people to Catholicism was a quest for many Spanish conquerors.
These Spanish conquests had a lasting impact on the language, culture, and architecture of these parts of the world. So, what architectural influences did the Spanish bring to the Americas?
To answer that question, we need to go even further back in time to the rise of Islam. Islam, the religion followed by Muslims, began in what is now Saudi Arabia in the 7th century. Over time, Islam spread westward across northern Africa and then north into Spain.
Islamic Design in Spain
The Muslim people of northwest Africa who migrated into Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar are known as the Moors. Or, if you are a Seinfeld fan, you may be familiar with these migrants as the Moops. Later, the brutal Spanish Inquisition at the end of the 15th century into the 16th century succeeded in expelling, killing, or converting much of the Jewish and Islamic population of Spain, to maintain Catholicism as the main Spanish religion.
The architecture of the Moors, or Moorish style, influenced the architecture of Spain and Portugal, which in turn—because of the conquests of Spanish explorers—impacted the historic styles seen in the southern United States, Caribbean, and western South America.
Some of the hallmarks of Moorish architecture include:
elaborate geometric patterns, often carved into stone
alternating rows of light and dark stone, called ablaq
graceful arches, including the pointed arch and the Islamic horseshoe arch
the integration of indoor and outdoor living spaces
the use of clerestory (pronounced kleer-story) windows to bring natural light and airflow into interior rooms
clay tile roofs
intricate decorative tile mosaics
courtyards, fountains, and water features to provide a sense of tranquility
small upper bell tower or spires featuring small windows and a stone carved or metal finial at the top, called minarets
Islamic- and Moorish-influenced Architecture in the Southern United States
Many southern US buildings built by the Spanish settlers of the 15th and 16th centuries are no longer standing. Let’s instead look at some 20th-century buildings that were inspired by Islamic and Moorish architecture.
The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida (below top), is a wonderful example of Moorish style. Built in 1925, it features exotic architecture with arches, red clay roof tiles, and a minaret at the top. In the heart of Miami is the Vizcaya Museum (below bottom), another excellent example of Moorish style, completed in 1923.
Spanish Mission Architecture in Southern North America
Not all architecture in Spain was influenced by the Moors, of course. As in other European countries, the Spanish experienced building construction during the Roman Empire (prior to 476 A.D.), before the Moors invaded in the 8th century. There are also many Romanesque (10th through 12th century), Gothic (12th to 14th century), Renaissance (15th and 16th centuries), Baroque (17th and 18th centuries), and Neoclassic (18th and early 19th centuries) buildings in Spain. But those periods were expressed more memorably in other countries, such as Italy and France.
But, throughout the periods, several stylistic architectural features and elements can be identified that are uniquely Spanish. Because these features were brought to the Americas by Spanish missionaries who sought to convert native populations to Catholicism, we have come to call American applications of this distinctive style Spanish Mission architecture.
Common elements include:
asymmetrical facades
thick, adobe walls covered with white stucco that retained cool interior air during hot, sunny days
or, light stone exterior walls
red clay tile roofs, also a good insulator for hot climates
elaborate, wood-carved front doors
arched openings
few, small multi-pane windows, often with iron railings
bell towers, called campinarios
outdoor courtyards
on the interior, exposed wooden ceiling beams, reddish clay tiled floors, and wall niches
The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain
This blog about Spanish architecture would be incomplete without a mention of one of the most interesting building projects taking place anywhere in the world today—the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. The construction on this basilica building began in 1882 and is still under construction today, nearly 150 years later. Such an extensive construction timeline must mean this is a remarkable building, right? The answer is yes! The architect, Antoni Gaudí, is known for his very eclectic and unusual style, his use of organic and free-spirited forms, unrestricted by any architectural conventions. Truly, there is no other building on earth that looks anything like the Sagrada Familia.
Gaudí worked on the design of this basilica for 43 years until his death in 1926 (after being struck by a passing train during his daily walk), when construction was estimated to be 15% complete. Construction has continued since that time, stopping only during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, and during the Covid pandemic starting in 2020. It had been hoped that construction could be completed in 2026, the hundredth anniversary of Gaudí’s death. But the Covid pandemic delayed progress, and it is now hoped that 2032—the 150th anniversary of its construction start—will see its completion.
Why has this building project taken so long? Well, it is a huge building (the tallest church in the world) with head-spinning complexity. Initially, Gaudí could only progress as far as monetary donations would allow. And then there were the challenges of drafting, documenting, and constructing such an enormously elaborate structure! It is amazing that Gaudí was able to imagine—much less document—the complexities of this design!! Once digital drafting technology became available in the late 20th century (decades after Gaudí’s death), construction progress accelerated significantly. Twentieth-century architects and builders often had to guess at Gaudí’s original design intent to extrapolate his vision.
One can see many varied and morphing architectural influences in the design. Certainly, there are Gothic-influenced elements (the pointed spires) and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms reminiscent of the period during which Gaudí worked on the building. Moorish influence is also very obvious, with the enormously elaborate geometric patterns carved into stone.
What is most striking to you about this architectural marvel? For me, it is that this does not look like a product of construction as much as it appears as some lumpy, bumpy fungus that sprouted up in a shady forest somewhere. It gives me a bit of goosebumps and makes me cringe a bit, though I do think it is one of the most outstanding examples of human imagination and ingenuity anywhere on earth. Any trip to Spain wouldn’t be complete without a visit to this architectural marvel. Me? I’m planning a trip in 2027!!!
SOURCES USED:
Architecture of Cities. (2020, November 30). Moorish architecture in Spain: The top 20 examples. https://architectureofcities.com/moorish-architecture
Ireland, J. (2018). History of interior design, 2nd edition. Fairchild Books.
Max, D. T. (2025, September 15). The Sagrada Familia takes its final shape. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/09/22/is-the-sagrada-familia-a-masterpiece-or-kitsch
Pacheco Spanish Architect. (2025, March 3). Moorish architecture in Spain: History, influence, and modern design. https://spanisharchitect.info/moorish-architecture-in-spain-history-modern-design/
Polyglottist Language Academy. (2024, March). The influence of Moorish culture on Spanish architecture. https://www.polyglottistlanguageacademy.com/language-culture-travelling-blog/2025/3/24/the-influence-of-moorish-culture-on-spanish-architecture
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