Islamic neo-medievalism in Madrid’s Tetuán neighbourhood

Last October we held several activities aimed at revaluing and disseminating the heritage of the Tetuán neighbourhood in Madrid, specifically its architecture, framed within the style of Islamic neo-medievalism. This objective was carried out through the organisation of two activities; on the one hand, a free access workshop aimed at the neighbours of the neighbourhood to find out how they perceive the heritage of the area and, on the other hand, a guided tour.

Both activities focused on the historical and cultural context in which the re-readings of medieval architecture emerged in the 19th century. Many of you will be familiar with the term ‘Neomudejar’, an architectural trend considered to be the materialisation of the Spanish nation, but what exactly does it consist of?

Madrid is full of buildings that fit into this somewhat jumbled box, which is defined, a priori, by the use of brick. At the end of the 19th century Madrid was in the midst of a period of change and growth, in which industrialisation was beginning to take hold. The high demand for labour attracted people from all over Spain who, faced with the real estate speculation that the city was undergoing, began to settle on the outskirts of the city, in what would later become the district of Tetuán, made up of neighbourhoods such as Bellas Vistas.

Today, the area is known and distinguished by its buildings with reddish facades, due to the clay colour of the bricks. Many of these buildings were built by the same master bricklayers who had to settle on the outskirts of the city.

It is unthinkable to speak of ‘neo-Mudejar’ without speaking of ‘Mudejar’ and, therefore, of Islamic or Andalusian heritage. In a confused present, marked by hate speeches towards the population of Muslim-majority countries, cultural heritage is presented as a tool to unite cultures and religions that might seem distant. Precisely, Spain has a heritage, that of Andalusia, which unites us with past times and distant places on the globe. A bridge that can be extrapolated from an architectural point of view, from the Middle Ages to the present day.

There are many social problems that run parallel to us and at the same time: hate speech, overcrowding, problems of access to housing, loss of spaces for socialising… In a neighbourhood like Bellas Vistas, marked by gentrification and the variety of cultures and nationalities, heritage has the potential to act as an element for improving neighbourhood coexistence.

With this and other activities, we seek to create a space for learning and dialogue for reflection and the construction of a future more respectful of difference, as well as to generate a reflection on the conservation of heritage: an asset for all.

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