The sentiment in the ancient construction. Coverings with mortar of lime, stucco in the Real Alcazar's "Patio del Príncipe" of Seville

Abstract

In this text we describe a detailed study on the influence of sentiment in coverings with the historical mortars of lime and stucco. As is wellknown, these materials have been used in construction for many centuries. Given its long use, its application was performed in a totally artisan form, very different to how it is carried out today, whereby modern technology is increasingly used through mechanical means. In artisan work, handcrafted work without machinery predominates. Hence the skill of the artisan is where the predominance lies. As an example we give the restoration of the Real Alcazar´s “Patio del Príncipe” of Seville, in which the utilization of the historical mortars of lime and stucco have been fully respected, manually applied in the same way as was done in those times when plastering was carried out on large continuous surfaces and on window frames, doorways, arches, cornices and decorative elements. The objective was to conserve those minute imperfections in the restoration which give artistic quality and singularity to this building in the search for authenticity in the project. As a conclusion of the study and practical application in this unique work, it has been observed how the traditional mortars of lime and stucco notably influence the quality of the restoration, and how the small artisan imperfections of the manual work draw attention to this building, thereby providing the same sensation as the building has always given, and underlining the coldness with which machines without spirit communicate in all artistic work.