Manuel Mergal, AIA, LEED AP

#tbt #HistoricPreservation is an inherently conservative act, therefore it takes more creativity to fit seamlessly into a historical setting. Robert Benson Photography. (at Village of East Hanpton)

Even the byroads in #Galicia are full of art. (at Boiro)

Lessons from #ElEscorial: corridors are always much more interesting when both sides are different. (at Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo)

#Library at #ElEscorial designed by #JuandeHerrera. The simple Doric order architecture is a perfect background for the art. (at Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo)

The project for El Escorial was conceived by Juan Bautista Villalpando as a recreation of the Temple of Solomon. Finished by Juan de Herrera who had good access to Villalpando’s drawings. (at San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Madrid)

View of #olivetrees in the distance. #Ubedas main agricultural product is olive oil. (at Úbeda, Spain)

That’s funny my watch is 30 years old and is not as accurate as this clock dating from 1604. (at Úbeda, Spain)

at Alhambra

These gardens have been continuously cultivated since Muslim times except that now they are not needed for survival. The furrows that you see will be planted with cabbage.

#elgeneralife gardens overlooking the #Alhambra and the #albaicin in the distance. (at Generalife)

#muslimfountain in the foreground, #christianfountain in the background. (at Generalife)

Not a bad perch for the #sultan from #elgeneralife (at Generalife)

#acanthus at #ElGeneralife #granada (at Alhambra)

The spontaneous #guitarist meets the spontaneous #videomaker :) (at Córdoba, Spain)

#olivetrees as far as the eye can see: dizzying! (at Andalusia)

#Patios in #Cordoba are an enchanting mix of #landscape, #architecture, and #floorpavings that make you forget reality for a little bit. (at Córdoba, Spain)

The tree trunks extend the interior column grid out into the #courtyard. It seems obvious that #Andalusians love their #orangetrees. (at Mezquita-Catedral De Córdoba - Cordoba, Spain)