Light and Architecture: Mannerist Devices in the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial

As an outstanding example of Mannerist architecture, the Monastery of El Escorial integrates several interesting theatrical devices that were designed to enlighten indoor areas, making it possible to run the activities of daily life with natural light and ventilation. Most of them were built in the 16th century according to the traces by architect Juan Bautista de Toledo, as the twin double facades or 'westworks' facing the surrounding Lonja terrace, while other were added in the following century. Our research is a pioneer in such architectural artifices for natural lighting and airing, that is based upon an in-depth study of the historic documents and in an accurate survey of both perpendicular aisles of the Convent and the School. The study focuses solely on the Convent's kitchen area that includes the double facade, the kitchen, and the lantern, with their surrounding corridors. With respect to the surveying methodology, some difficulties as physical and visual inaccessibility and connectivity between scan stations arouse and increased substantially the difficulties during the fieldwork. A mixed methodology was used, combining direct and indirect measurement techniques that included laser scanning and photogrammetry. Further analyses were made by means of a 3D model that showed the incidence of sunlight from the East through the lantern and from the West through the double facade, as well as from the complementary skew openings.

Automated summary

This study examines the lighting and ventilation techniques of Mannerist architecture through a detailed analysis of the kitchen area in the Monastery of El Escorial. Utilizing a mixed methodology and a 3D model, the research demonstrates the impact of sunlight from the lantern and the double facade.