The Houses of al-Andalus: A Synthesis of a Domestic Model

Abstract

The architecture of houses in al-Andalus has long been the subject of various typological classifications and interpretations regarding its evolution. This article presents an in-depth analysis of the domestic structures excavated at 59 published archaeological sites, encompassing urban and rural settlements between the 8th and 14th centuries. Based on the internal layout of these dwellings, a classification of the main house types is proposed. The distribution of these types across urban and rural settlement contexts and their chronological framework is also examined. The study argues that the courtyard house should not be defined by the number of built wings around the patio or by its construction process, but by its essential and defining feature: the courtyard. This type of dwelling is attested from the earliest phases of al-Andalus. Documented modifications to the floor plans – primarily subdivisions or extensions – are interpreted as responses to changes in the composition of the household and often span more than one generation. Differences in architectural complexity, room functionality, and building techniques are mainly attributed to the degree of specialisation reached in the construction processes. This approach offers a renewed perspective on the Andalusi house, in which the courtyard is reaffirmed as the central organisational element.