The courtyard house was the house type for the Sevillian upper classes during the 19th century. The “zaguán” hallways, the gate and the courtyard are its main elements.
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Houses were typically structured around a main courtyard surrounded by round arched galleries which later in the century evolved into lintelled forms. The railing at the entrance led to a hallway. This Sevillian creation, which dates from the 18th century, gave rise to the development of the romantic houses with courtyards of the 19th century. |
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If the Sevillian house shares the Mudejar style of being closed to the outside, with a gate and open doorway, the patio becomes almost part of the street itself. Closing balconies with a structure of iron and glass became highly popular during this period. With this elegant feature the houses gained in seclusion as the large glass windows allowed dwellers to look discreetly outside without being seen. In addition to the bourgeois houses with courtyards, there are a series of buildings in various styles such as the Casa de las Sirenas, Villa Eugenia, and Yanduri. |